The image of a pharmacist counting pills by hand is becoming a relic. Across major pharmacy chains, robotic systems now handle the majority of prescription fulfillment, and the technology is scaling faster than most people realize. The pharmacy automation market reached $6.31 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $19.35 billion by 2035.
Here is where things stand and what it means for patients and pharmacists.
Walgreens: Centralized Robotic Hubs
Walgreens has taken one of the most aggressive approaches to automation. The company operates centralized robotic fulfillment hubs that now fill approximately 60% of prescriptions for around 3,000 stores across the United States.
The model works by routing routine prescription orders to regional hubs where robotic systems handle counting, labeling, and packaging. The finished prescriptions are then shipped to individual store locations for patient pickup or delivery. This removes a significant portion of the manual workload from individual pharmacy locations.
The result is that pharmacists in stores spend less time on mechanical tasks and more time on clinical services, patient consultations, and immunizations.
Walmart: 100,000 Prescriptions a Day
Walmart has built automated fulfillment facilities that process approximately 100,000 prescriptions daily. The company plans to scale these facilities to support 90% of its pharmacy locations by 2026.
Walmart's approach focuses on high-volume efficiency. Automated systems handle everything from receiving the prescription electronically to dispensing the correct medication and quantity, applying labels, and preparing the order for shipment. Human pharmacists oversee the process and handle exceptions, but the routine work is machine-driven.
The scale is remarkable. Processing 100,000 prescriptions per day from centralized facilities represents a fundamental shift in how pharmacy operations are structured.
Hanmi and McKesson: New Players Enter the Market
South Korean pharmaceutical company Hanmi recently launched Countmate, an automated vial dispensing system designed for both the US and Canadian markets. The system is being distributed through a partnership with McKesson, one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors in North America.
Countmate automates the counting and dispensing of tablets and capsules into vials, a task that traditionally consumes a significant portion of pharmacy staff time. The system is designed to be compact enough for individual pharmacy locations, not just large centralized hubs.
This is significant for the Canadian market specifically. While large US chains have invested in massive centralized automation, many Canadian pharmacies are independently owned and operate at smaller scale. Compact, affordable automation systems like Countmate could bring the benefits of robotic dispensing to pharmacies that cannot justify building a dedicated fulfillment center.
The Numbers on Accuracy and Speed
The case for pharmacy automation is built on two metrics: accuracy and speed.
- Error reduction. Robotic dispensing systems reduce medication errors by approximately 90% compared to manual processes. Medication errors are a serious patient safety concern, with an estimated 1.3 million people injured annually by medication errors in the United States alone.
- Speed improvement. Automated systems improve prescription processing speed by 35% to 50%, reducing wait times for patients and allowing pharmacies to handle higher volumes without proportionally increasing staff.
These are not marginal improvements. A 90% reduction in errors translates directly to fewer adverse drug events, fewer hospitalizations, and better patient outcomes.
What This Means for Pharmacists
Automation in pharmacy is not about replacing pharmacists. It is about redirecting their expertise. When a robot handles the mechanical task of counting pills and applying labels, the pharmacist is free to do what they are trained to do: review drug interactions, counsel patients on proper medication use, administer vaccinations, and provide clinical assessments.
Pharmacy associations in both the US and Canada have generally supported this shift, viewing it as an elevation of the pharmacist's role from technician to clinician.
What This Means for Patients
For patients, the benefits are straightforward:
- Fewer medication errors means safer prescriptions.
- Faster processing means shorter wait times.
- More pharmacist availability means better consultations and personalized care.
As automation continues to scale, patients should expect their pharmacy experience to become more efficient and more focused on their individual health needs.
At PlusVirtual, we embrace technology that improves patient safety and access. Whether prescriptions are filled by hand or by robot, our commitment remains the same: accurate, affordable, and accessible pharmacy care for every Canadian patient.