PharmaTrust to introduce MedCentre remote pharmacy dispensing machine in UK

PharmaTrust will become the first company to introduce a remote pharmacy dispensing machine into the UK later this year. The Oakville, Ontario-based company announced yesterday at an event at Grocer's Hall in London that it is commencing trials of its MedCentre dispensing technology at five hospitals in the UK. Guests included government representatives, pharmacy stakeholders and media.

The MedCentre is a safe, secure medicine dispensing machine, which provides a face-to-face consultation via a video-link with a registered pharmacist and immediate access to prescribed medicines. It creates the potential for 24 hour and 7 day-a-week access to pharmacists and prescribed medication and includes extensive controls to ensure that patients are safely and accurately dispensed their medicines.

The trials, which are expected to begin in autumn of this year, will aim to assess British patients' use of the technology and their satisfaction levels. These trials are the first to occur at the international level, however the MedCentres have been operating safely in several Ontario hospitals and clinics since 2007.

"We believe the MedCentre is simple to use and has benefits for patients across the UK." Said Peter Ellis, Executive Director, EMEA, PharmaTrust. "We are excited to be moving into international markets with this technology, which we feel could have a significant impact on access to medication globally."

"Every year Britons pick up nearly one billion prescriptions. This illustrates the huge potential of these new machines which could provide patients with life saving, around the clock medicine - when they need it, where they need it," said Andrew Cahn, Chief Executive Sir, UK Trade & Investment. "I'm delighted PharmaTrust has chosen the UK to pilot its new MedCentres. It sees the UK as a gateway to Europe for its new technology."

UK Trade & Investment, the government department which helps bring investment into the UK, has worked closely with PharmaTrust to bring the MedCentre technology to the UK.