Chinese robots exhibited at big pharmacists event

LOS ANGELES — Two Chinese automated robotic models were exhibited at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition, which concluded at the Anaheim Convention Center in California last week.

The two intravenous therapy drug compounding robots, designed and produced by Weibond Technology, complete the compounding of IV drugs and antibiotics in a minute, which has not only raised the accuracy and efficiency of compounding, but also reduced risks of IV drugs harming pharmacists.

According to ASHP, Weibond is the first and only exhibitor from China to participate in ASHP meetings and exhibitions over the past four decades.

Operational demonstrations were conducted on site to more than 25,000 pharmacy professionals — from around the globe — taking part in the annual gathering.

Liu Baochun, CEO of Weibond Technology, said the research and development of the robot started in 2009, and it went into operation first in Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University in 2016. Its processing of ampoules is the first in the world, and the technology has independent intellectual property rights, Liu said.

Mike Storey, a pharmacist at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus in Ohio State, the United States, was among those showing great interest in the Chinese robot.

He told Xinhua that artificial intelligence applications in medical treatment will be the future trend. His hospital has not been equipped with a compounding robot yet, and he was very interested in the Chinese technology.

Storey said there are strict criteria for a medical center to operate such a robot in terms of space and a closed environment. He hoped to discuss cooperation with Chinese partners in this regard.

The ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition is the largest gathering of pharmacists in the world.

A total of 373 exhibitors worldwide joined the exhibition, sharing technology and other products that are designed to aid pharmacists offering highlevel patient care in hospitals and health-system settings.

About 170 education sessions were held during the annual meeting, covering almost 30 healthcare-related topics.