Existing Superdrug Online NHS Prescriptions customers and patients who are on multiple medications can sign up for the Easymed service for free when ordering their NHS repeat prescriptions on Superdrug’s website, the company announced last week (August 27).

Easymed uses “robotic technology and artificial intelligence to dispense medication”, Superdrug said, through which it packs all the patient’s pills that can be transferred into small, dose-specific pill pouches.

Each pouch specifies which pills should be taken and when, covering a month’s supply. The pouches are “dispensed on a roll and delivered in a recyclable box”, Superdrug explained.

Making “life easier”

The new service could be helpful for those taking multiple medications every day, as it can “reduce confusion for patients by eliminating the scheduling and counting” of medication, according to the multiple.

Superdrug health ambassador Dr Zoe Williams said that some patients who are on multiple medications might struggle to take it correctly due to issues such as memory problems or lack of dexterity.

“Easymed pouches hope to make it easier for patients to be concordant with their prescribed regimen, which can make life easier and ensure better management of their conditions, while also saving money for the NHS,” she added.

Superdrug said it currently has the capacity to support all “eligible patients” who sign up to the service.

Speaking to C+D last year, Rowlands managing director Mark Bather said his multiple was also planning to rollout PilPouch, a pouch-based dispensing device, across its branches.

A Rowlands’ spokesperson told C+D yesterday (September 1) that 138 of its branches will be live with the service by the end of next week, and added that it will continue to roll out the service to more branches this year.