Multi-faceted boundary relations in pharmacy automation

Abstract

The robotisation of pharmacies has been a comprehensive and yet subtle development proceeding over the past two decades. Pharmacies provide a novel and relevant framework for the study of automation where multiple factors, including professional interests, governmental regulation, and private business interests all determine how robots are integrated into work. Applying a mixed methods approach including interviews with automation manufacturers and pharmacy workers as well as a comprehensive survey (N = 573), we investigated how pharmacy automation is produced and implemented. Our research shows that pharmacy automation is deemed more useful by the pharmaceutical staff compared to technical assistants. Autonomous machines may reduce workers' own autonomy. Significant factors in evaluating the usefulness of automation were primarily autonomy and time pressure. The findings further reveal that pharmacy robots facilitate a new spatial design where the effectiveness of automation can also be harnessed to increase over-the-counter product sales amplify the societal use of medication, also known as pharmaceuticalisation.