Who must approve all drugs going into an Automated Dispensing System (ADS)?

The approval of all drugs going into an Automated Dispensing System (ADS) is primarily the responsibility of a registered pharmacist. This requirement is based on the pharmacist's expertise in medication management, safety, and therapeutic appropriateness. A pharmacist has the training and regulatory knowledge to ensure that the medications loaded into the ADS are suitable for patient use, adhere to the prescribed standards, and comply with relevant laws and regulations.

The pharmacist's role encompasses evaluating the medication for potential interactions, dosing accuracy, and ensuring that the medications are appropriate for the patient population being served by the ADS. The oversight provided by a registered pharmacist is essential in maintaining patient safety and medication efficacy, particularly in an automated setting where human checks may be limited.

In contrast, while a pharmacy manager oversees pharmacy operations and a pharmacy and therapeutics committee may establish formulary guidelines, the direct responsibility for approving specific drugs in the ADS lies with the registered pharmacist. Pharmacy technicians, although vital in the pharmacy workflow, do not have the same authority or training to make decisions regarding medication approval for automated systems.