Vending machine replaces campus pharmacy

Three months after its on-campus pharmacy closed, Arizona State University has introduced a vending machine that will dispense many common medications.

According to the university’s student newspaper, a Minnesota-based company called InstyMeds created the machine. It stocks the 50 most commonly prescribed medications for students, including antibiotics, asthma treatments, antihistamines, probiotics, anti-nausea medicine, vitamins, and smoking cessation medications. It will not dispense narcotics or controlled substances.

Prior to using the machine, students must visit an on-campus healthcare provider and gain a personalized code that only lasts for 24 hours.

“In order to receive medications from the machine, students must input the security code and their date of birth,” Christiana Moore, associate director of ASU Health Services, told the newspaper. “For security purposes, the medication is scanned three times prior to dispensing to ensure precision and accuracy.”

Students can use their insurance to pay for the prescriptions or charge the costs to their student accounts. A telephone phone attached to the machine allows students to speak to a pharmacist or billing representative.

The machine is designed for first fills, so students seeking refills would need to go to a pharmacy. Additionally, students with chronic conditions will also need to go to a pharmacy.