Global Central Fill Pharmacy Automation Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032

Global Central Fill Pharmacy Automation Market Outlook

The global central fill pharmacy automation market size was valued at USD 613.4 million in 2023, driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic disease and the need for automation in the pharmacy sector across the globe. The market size is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 11.7% during the forecast period of 2024-2032 to achieve a value of USD 1662.2 million by 2032.

Global Central Fill Pharmacy Automation Market Overview

Central fill pharmacy refers to a service where a central pharmacy takes care of the orders that are generated from another pharmacy also said as originating pharmacy. The central pharmacy keeps dispensing all the drugs and requested items that are mentioned on the prescription generated by the originating pharmacy. Central fill pharmacy automation is a service where automation of the drug delivery system is performed. The delivery of the drugs is done by the central pharmacy which provides the service to another pharmacy to operate without having to have a storefront. The central fill pharmacy receives the order from the origination pharmacy, packs, and delivers the medications directly to the patient.

Ket trends driving market growth include the increased technological advancements in the sector. The increasing investments by governments in both developed and developing countries have been increasing, further propelling the global central fill pharmacy automation market growth. The increased awareness among the governments, people, and healthcare facilities has been a key trend in the market. The healthcare facilities, along with pharmacies, have been availing benefits of the central fill pharmacy automation services and have been experiencing increased productivity.

The ever-evolving advancements in the central fill pharmacy automation market have further promoted its worth in the pharmacy sector. These central fill pharmacies have multiple benefits of robotic dispensing and one of them includes its capability to dispense up to 300 prescriptions per day with the assistance of a single technician handling everything. These innovative resolutions of problems have revolutionized the pharmacy automation industry and popularized the central fill pharmacy automation market.

The market has been increasing steadily for the past years and is expected to keep growing in the forecast period. The factors driving the market growth include the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancers, and immunity disorders. The increasing preference for automated dispensing of specialty drugs with reduced medication errors is also contributing to the global central fill pharmacy automation market growth. Additionally, increasing accidental injuries, along with various chronic diseases that require timely and regular consumption of medications in the geriatric population, demands the fastest and most accurate supply of medications. Due to the process being automated, the chances of generating errors become less, and the total time of the process is also reduced resulting in the increased productivity and error-free environment at central fill pharmacies.

Innovative Product Launches

In October 2023, A state-of-the-art, next-generation automated drug dispensing machine equipped with a robotic arm, independently developed by JVM, an affiliate of Hanmi Science, was successfully launched in the European market. JVM announced that it entered a supply contract in the Netherlands with Brocacef, a company that operates large, factory-type dispensing pharmacies in Europe, for 'MENITH,' an automatic dispensing machine equipped with an articulated robotic arm.

The integration of a robotic arm reduces the chances of human errors and streamlines the dispensing workflow. It also enhances the operational capabilities of central fill pharmacies, promoting faster and more accurate medication dispensing. Such advancements are further poised to contribute to the increasing central fill pharmacy automation market demand for innovative automation solutions that optimize pharmaceutical processes to improve operational efficiency, propelling the market demand and growth simultaneously.

Additionally, in October 2023, IA, a company that provides an integrated pharmacy packaging fulfillment platform for retail, health systems, and government pharmacies, was to introduce two advanced robotics systems to expand its customization capabilities for different pharmacies.

The IA Smart SecurePack is an automated bagging system integrated with the NEXiA Enterprise Software Suite, eliminating manual packaging efforts within a centralized fulfillment facility and enhancing the accuracy of medication distribution. With the new portfolio addition, pharmacies can improve order fulfillment speed while maintaining high safety and reliability standards.

The integration of automated bagging systems with sophisticated software streamlines the packaging process and reduces the chances of manual efforts, leading to increased efficiency and accuracy in medication distribution, and contributing to the increased demand in the market. This system will further enhance order fulfillment speed without compromising safety and reliability standards.

Significant FDA Approvals

In August 2023, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies announced US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the Reveos Automated Whole Blood Processing System. It is the first whole blood automation device available in the US that processes whole blood platelets and other components in a single centrifugation cycle. Reveos is estimated to reduce the working hours needed by the laboratory staff by 30%.

This FDA approval is a significant milestone in the central fill pharmacy automation market. This blood processing system enhances efficiency and contributes to substantial labor savings needed by laboratory staff, which is further expected to result in quicker turnaround times, minimizing errors, and ultimately improving patient care, propelling the central fill pharmacy automation market growth.

Prominent Partnerships

In November 2023, Chicago Tag & Label, Inc. (CTL) proudly announced the partnership with Precision Automation to bring next-level automation to order fulfillment with an innovative robotic labeling solution. The solution features an Epson Industrial robot to automatically apply CTL's Multiplex™ Enclosed Packing List, which simultaneously prints the shipping label and packing list from a single roll. CTL's Multiplex™ solution enables companies to save time and reduce errors by printing the shipping label and packing list in one step. The Epson robotic automation takes this efficiency to the next level by automatically applying the Multiplex™ labels to shipping boxes and pallets with ease. This groundbreaking solution provides companies with a streamlined and automated order fulfillment process from start to finish.  This solution automates the pharmaceutical supply chain, providing a streamlined, error-free, and time-efficient order fulfillment process while bolstering the global central fill pharmacy automation market growth.

Rapid Innovations

In December 2023, Elevance Health announced about the launch of CarelonRx Pharmacy, a digital and home delivery pharmacy subsidiary, in 2024. CarelonRx Pharmacy will be allegedly available to Anthem health plan members who have CarelonRx as their pharmacy benefit manager, an Elevance spokesperson told Becker's. Carelon is Elevance Health's non-insurance services division. The new digital pharmacy will allow members to engage with pharmacists via text, chat, or phone 24/7; compare the costs of medications; and track the status of their orders.

This launch is anticipated to bolster the growth of such automation and advancements in the central fill pharmacy automation market. This innovative approach aligns with consumer preferences for personalized and technologically advanced healthcare solutions, setting an instance for increased adoption of automated solutions and contributing to market expansion.

Global Central Fill Pharmacy Automation Market Segmentations

Market Breakup by Product and Services

• Equipment
  • Automated Medication Dispensing System
  • Integrated Workflow Automation Systems
  • Automated Packaging and Labeling Systems
  • Automated Tabletop Counters
  • Automated Medication Compounding Systems
  • Automated Storage and retrieval Systems
  • Other Automated Systems

• Services
  • Consulting
  • Workflow and process optimization
  • Facility Designing
  • Custom Software Development
  • Other Services

Market Breakup by Vendor

• Equipment Vendors

• Consulting Vendors

Market Breakup by Application

• Inpatient Pharmacy

• Outpatient Pharmacy

• Retail Pharmacy

• Others

Market Breakup by Region

• North America

• Europe

• Asia Pacific

• Latin America

• Middle East and Africa

Global Central Fill Pharmacy Automation Market Regional Analysis

North America is expected to dominate the overall market for central fill pharmacy automation throughout the forecast period due to the presence of geriatric patients and obese patients in the region, which is also demanding the central fill pharmacy model due to the hectic lifestyles of citizens. The region is also leading to continuous technological advancements.

In May 2023, University of Florida Health emergency patients now can get more than 120 of the most common medications prescribed in the ER from automated pharmacy kiosks that offer the latest technology while retaining the human touch. Customers still interact with a UF Health licensed pharmacist who appears on a screen to answer questions, provide guidance, and shepherd the patient through the process.

The kiosks, which do not dispense controlled substances, are located at the UF Health Shands Emergency Room, the UF Health Shands Emergency Center ­– Springhill, and the UF Health Emergency Center – Kanapaha. With the closest 24-hour pharmacy located in Jacksonville, an hour’s drive away, the kiosks, manufactured by MedAvail Technologies, fill a critical need for UF Health emergency patients in Gainesville.

This technology by MedAvail Technologies enhances efficiency by providing quick access to essential medications and addresses a crucial need for UF Health emergency patients in Gainesville. The market growth can be attributed to the potential for streamlined and accessible healthcare solutions.

Global Central Fill Pharmacy Automation Market: Competitor Landscape

RedSail Technologies, LLC, developer of Axys, proudly announced the launch of its integration with Parata™ PASS™, the leading medication adherence packaging solution. This integration marks a significant milestone in healthcare management, empowering pharmacies to enhance medication management, improve medication adherence, and streamline workflow.

The key features of the market report include patent analysis, grants analysis, clinical trials analysis, funding and investment analysis, partnerships, and collaborations analysis by the leading key players. The major companies in the market are as follows:

• McKesson Corporation

• Omnicell, Inc.

• Arxium, Inc.

• RxSafe, LLC

• Tension Packaging & Automation.

• Parata Systems, LLC

• Providen Logistics Ltd.

• ScriptPro LLC

• KUKA AG

• Cornerstone Automation Systems, LLC

• R/X Automation Solutions

• TCGRX Pharmacy Workflow Solutions

• Innovation Associates

• Cardinal Health

• Quality Manufacturing Systems, Inc

Kindly note that this only represents a partial list of companies, and the complete list has been provided in the report.

Key Highlights of the Report