Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the return on investment (ROI), cost savings, and financial sustainability of pharmacy automation systems in healthcare settings.
METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar was conducted for peer-reviewed studies published up to May 2026. Eligible studies assessed hospital or healthcare-facility pharmacy automation compared with manual or pre-automation workflows and reported economic or resource outcomes, including ROI, payback period, cost savings, labour efficiency, resource optimisation, medication waste, or budget impact. Because of heterogeneity in automation type, economic perspective, and outcome reporting, findings were synthesised narratively.
RESULTS: Of 898 non-duplicate records screened, nine studies met inclusion criteria. Across hospital settings, pharmacy automation was consistently associated with favourable financial and operational outcomes. Reported ROI ranged from +1.86% to substantial net cost savings, while payback periods ranged from 1 to 8 years. Annual savings of up to US$4.1 million were reported, largely through reduced medication waste, expired inventory, and adverse drug event-related costs. Automation also improved workforce efficiency, including reduced nursing and pharmacy technician workload and productivity gains exceeding 40%, supporting staff reallocation toward clinical services.
CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from available studies suggests that pharmacy automation can generate measurable economic and operational benefits, although findings vary by system type, implementation context, and reporting approach. These results support pharmacy automation as a potential strategic investment for improving health-system efficiency, affordability, and sustainable pharmaceutical service delivery.