Cyrus Hodivala, Meditech Managing Director UK & Ireland, explains why his organisation are at the forefront of technology and AI in pharmacy…
At Meditech UK & Ireland, pharmacists aren’t just customers — they are the core of everything we do. That’s because the leadership team knows first-hand the realities of community pharmacy.
My business partner, Balal Anwar, and I run Cristal Pharmacy in North London. We live the daily pressures: the queues, the restocking, the staff shortages, the rising prescription volumes. It means every system we design is built with the pharmacist in mind — freeing them from repetitive tasks so they can focus on patients, services, and clinical care.
The challenges facing the sector are intensifying. Prescription volumes grow 3–4 per cent year on year while the number of pharmacies falls. Margins are squeezed, and reliable staff are increasingly difficult to recruit and retain. In this environment, automation isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.
A robot is not just a machine; it is a way to protect time, reduce errors, release capacity, and secure the future of the business.
A track record of trust
Meditech has been building pharmacy robots for more than 30 years, with over 3,500 systems live worldwide. Since launching in the UK & Ireland just 17 months ago, we have already signed more than 90 sites.
My own 35+ years in robotics, including two decades delivering automation to the NHS, give me a unique perspective on what works — and what doesn’t — in the UK market.
Our product portfolio is deliberately broad. The MT.XS compact robot is designed for smaller independents; the MT.XL hybrid system with MT.SPEED high-speed channels offers capacity for busy dispensaries and hubs. Our MT.OPTIMAT autoloaders bring resilience and speed to both. Whether it’s a single store or a multi-branch hub, Meditech can match the right solution to the right environment.
But hardware is only half the story. Our real difference lies in how we support owners.
Every robot is fully assembled and run-tested in our Izegem factory for a minimum of one week before delivery. This unique approach ensures smoother installations, faster go-lives, and systems that work reliably from day one. We stand behind them with a 15-year minimum End-of-Life guarantee — the only manufacturer worldwide to do so — alongside national service SLAs, remote monitoring, and a UK-based team of engineers and helpdesk staff.
Analysis first, not sales
Our process always begins with business analysis. Using detailed ROI modelling tools, we examine pack counts, staff costs, workflow inefficiencies, and growth trends.
Often the results surprise owners — even a pharmacy dispensing just 4,000 items a month can make automation viable once true labour costs are revealed. That clarity ensures owners make informed choices about which system suits their environment.
Installation is planned with equal care. Because every Meditech robot has already been fully tested before shipping, on-site build usually takes only one to two weeks. Pharmacies stay open, with temporary workflows mapped out in advance so service to patients is uninterrupted.
Integration is seamless. We liaise directly with all the major PMR vendors — TITAN, ProScript, Positive Solutions, Pharmacy Manager, Pharmacy X, Apotec — to ensure connectivity. Pharmacies almost never need to change their PMR system, though some choose to do so to take full advantage of automation features.
Supporting change
Introducing a robot isn’t just about plugging in a machine. It’s about transforming workflows and unlocking new opportunities. That’s why training is central to every installation. We work on site with pharmacists, dispensers, and counter staff — not just to show them how the robot works, but how to redesign their processes around it.
We also advise owners on how to best use the capacity that automation releases. Freeing pharmacists from repetitive bench work creates time for clinical services: Pharmacy First consultations, blood pressure checks, vaccinations, and more. It’s these services that will underpin the future of community pharmacy, and automation makes them possible at scale.
Robots can also add theatre. Patients are intrigued when they see technology in action, and many pharmacies install glass panels to showcase the working system. It sparks conversation, builds trust in safety and professionalism, and boosts staff pride in their workplace.
Benefits for all
The benefits of integrated automation are clear.
For pharmacies, it means:
• Safety through barcoding and expiry control.
• Efficiency with faster, more accurate picking.
• Released capacity to redeploy staff into clinical services.
• Financial security through lower payroll costs, higher service income, and faster ROI — often within 12 to 18 months.
For patients, it means:
• Shorter waiting times and smoother service.
• Confidence in safety with fewer dispensing errors and better stock management.
• Convenience through 24/7 collection and greater access to their pharmacist.
Looking ahead
Our vision is simple: to become the leading supplier of automation and efficiency solutions for community pharmacy, in the UK and beyond. We are committed to supporting the independent sector as pharmacies evolve into clinical hubs under the NHS 10-year plan. That means innovating faster robots, smarter PMR integration, advanced scan-to-bag workflows, and expanding our unique rental model so independents can access automation with no upfront cost or leveraged debt.
Above all, our promise remains unchanged: every Meditech robot is factory-built, factory-tested, and guaranteed for a minimum 15-year lifecycle. That’s true peace of mind for pharmacy owners.
