Superdrug has launched a new automated medication pouching service, using a dispensing robot to assemble patients’ pills into dose-specific pouches.

The free service, which is called Easymed, will indicate which pills should be taken and at what time over the course of a month, in a bid to support medication compliance.

It is available to patients who receive their repeat prescriptions via Superdrug Online, with the multiple reporting that it has the capacity to offer it to all eligible patients who sign up.

Shiraz Khan, head of healthcare operations at Superdrug, commented: “Our aim is to continuously introduce new ways to make everyday healthcare easier, safer and more accessible.”

Mr Khan claimed the service used up to date technology “to make medication dispensing safer and more sanitary” and that

It uses the very latest technology to make medication dispensing safer and more sanitary and delivers better patient outcomes by making it easier for them to adhere to a multiple medicine regimen.”

Superdrug spokesperson Dr Zoe Williams said: “Some patients struggle to take medication correctly for a whole range of reasons, from memory problems to dexterity issues, and the higher the number of medicines they gave prescribed the harder it can be.

“Easymed pouches hope to make it easier 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.”