Students

Arizona State University to Install Medication Vending Machine in Wake of Pharmacy Closure

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Arizona State University (ASU) is taking action to simplify their students' lives by planning to install a vending machine for prescription drugs.

According to 12 News TV-Phoenix, the school is planning to install the machine to make up for the closure of the on-campus pharmacy. Produced by a company called InstyMeds, the vending machine will be most beneficial to students without the means to get to an off-campus pharmacy.

Only students and faculty that have prescriptions from ASU Health Services will be able to access the machine.

"This is a great solution for students who want to access their medications right after their appointment," Christiana Moore, a health services spokeswoman, told 12 News.

After receiving their prescription, the patient will get a voucher with identification information connected to a code, which is then sent to the machine over a secure wireless connection. The patient then has 24 hours to pick up their prescription.

ASU Health Services did not disclose what kinds of drugs will be stocked in the vending machine, but said there will be at least 50 of the ones they prescribe most often. ASU closed their on-campus pharmacy on Sept. 26 and transferred students' prescriptions elsewhere beforehand.

"Serving the health-care needs of our students is still our highest priority; we believe the measures we have taken will help our students with their prescription needs," Allan Markus, director of ASU Health Services, said in a statement at the time.

According to their official website, InstyMeds was founded in 1999 and first began dispensing medications from machines in 2001. The company has done so more than two million time since, they said.

"InstyMeds dramatically improves prescription fill rates and reduces the downstream costs associated with patient noncompliance," their website reads. "In addition, InstyMeds offers a level of convenience to enhance patient satisfaction and give health care facilities a competitive edge."

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