Prices were on par with other retail pharmacies such as Watsons and Guardian. In some cases, the items sold in vending machines were slightly cheaper.
For example, a box of 12 Panadol Cold Relief Caplets was priced at S$10.60 (US$7.90). This is cheaper than his S$11 from Guardian, which sells the same product.
I didn’t see anyone using the vending machines when this reporter was there, but Simone Tan, general manager of Essentials Pharmacy, says they average between five and 10 transactions per day. said there is
This amount increases during flu season, she said, adding that the machines are refilled once or twice a week.
In addition to being able to dispense medicines 24 hours a day, it also has a phone consultation function that allows you to consult with a pharmacist and learn how to purchase medicines and how to use them correctly.
However, the company said the feature will be temporarily unavailable due to staffing constraints.
SmartRx, the machine’s developer, told CNA that it plans to roll out 50 units by the end of the year, some of which will be installed in supermarkets, gas stations and ActiveSG centers.
So far, it has installed five vending machines for various purposes across Singapore.
For example, at the headquarters of Singapore Chunghwa Medical Institution in Toa Payoh, vending machines dispense traditional herbal medicines. Another facility at the Singapore National Dental Center offers dental products such as toothbrushes, dental floss and mouthwash.
In March, the company partnered with healthcare group MinMed to open a telemedicine clinic at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), complete with vending machines where users can pick up their prescriptions.