Role of Industrial Automation in Pharma, Healthcare Industry
Published on : Wednesday 07-02-2024
Automation plays a significant role in transforming the operations and capabilities of pharma and healthcare – Industrial Automation.
The pharma industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in India. From traditionally based largely on manual operations to automation technologies, the industry has seen tremendous growth over time. In today’s digital age, the pharmaceutical industry is largely shifting towards advanced automated machines and equipment for precision care delivery.
According to industry sources, pharmaceuticals in India is estimated to become a UD$130 billion industry by 2023. In 2024, it is expected to reach US$65 billion by 2024. Highlighting the growth of the industry, Avinash Kumar Talwar, Vice-President, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories said, “As the growth of the pharma market is coming from complex molecules, it will force companies to invest and build future state-of-the-art labs. The demand for sophisticated equipment and instruments to aid in the process of drug discovery, development, analysis and modelling of the compounds will continue to grow at the same pace.”
Automation in India’s pharmaceutical sector
Increased automation can help the pharmaceutical industry make more efficient usage of energy and raw materials; improve safety in working conditions; enhance regulatory compliance, and improve both product quality and consistency. Digital technology and information technology bring in the much–needed interconnectivity between equipment, operations, and people.
The modern pharmaceutical industry in India is heavily investing in and implementing technology for process management and data analytics. It can also be used for identifying cost-effective therapies, content management, and engaging with healthcare providers and customers.
Using connected devices in pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities can help improve business and manufacturing efficiency while minimising risk by enabling remote access to equipment, proactive maintenance, and real-time plant floor visibility. It also provides the ability to quickly recognise and respond to compliance issues, and alleviate and prevent human errors.
Advantages of increased tech adoption in pharma and healthcare
Increased adoption of technology in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry brings about several advantages. These advantages significa
ntly contribute to streamlined processes, advancements in research and development, and improved patient care. Some key advantages of increased tech adoption are mentioned below:
Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity: The integration of cutting-edge technology has ushered in a new era of efficiency in healthcare operations. It streamlines tasks such as record-keeping and patient information sharing, resulting in faster and more accurate processes.
Improved Patient Care: Automation technologies such as AI and ML facilitate precise diagnostics and highly personalised treatment plans. They help in enhancing patient outcomes through well-informed decisions based on data and analysis.
Cost Efficiency: Automation of routine tasks in clinical trials and administrative processes lessens human errors, improves efficiency, and lowers operational costs. It also minimises the need for extended hospital stays. These all lead to substantial cost savings for patients.
Regulatory Compliance: Automated systems or electronic data capture (EDC) ensure accurate and compliant data capture, storage, and reporting for clinical trials, accelerating regulatory approvals. It significantly revolutionises patient care and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Supply Chain Optimisation: Automation in supply chain processes optimises pharmaceutical supply chains, ensuring efficient inventory management and reducing the risk of shortages and wastage. This results in increased productivity and efficiency.
While these advantages of tech adoption are significant, it is essential to address certain challenges like data privacy, cybersecurity, and equitable access to technology.
Impact of automation on real-world pharma companies
As several companies have implemented or are putting their efforts into gaining advantages of automation and cutting-edge technologies, there are some industry players who have experienced the real taste. In this section, we have covered a few companies across the globe that have harnessed the power of automation to become a smart healthcare provider.
One such healthcare provider using automation is Apollo Hospitals Group. The group has introduced a custom-designed state-of-the-art remote and continuous patient monitoring system. The system has been designed to provide supervision and alert a team of experts if it predicts any unexpected deterioration in patient health. According to the group, the system will also help in improving timely intervention with the right experts thus ensuring significant improvement in patient’s condition management and health outcome.
Practo is another healthcare technology company that utilises automation for seamless healthcare services. The company’s automation feature, Practo Ray, allows companies to automate their clinic management and lower the risk of error. By using this feature, organisations can automate their patient billing and save time with accurate billing, comprehensive payment reports, and a complete database. This automation feature, in turn, will free doctors and staff members to focus on what they do best for patient care.
Another healthcare provider is Asan Medical Center (AMC). The medical institution based in Korea was looking to enhance operational efficiency and customer service. It wanted to automate the bed allocation process to minimise the workload on hospital staff so that they could focus more time on high-value customer service tasks. For this, AMC collaborated with IBM Services.
The IBM Services team implemented robotic process automation (RPA) for tasks such as inpatient registration, reservation change and cancellation. This resulted in a zero per cent error rate in bed allocation, 20 minutes faster allocation of beds to patients, and saving 3 hours of staff members every day with automation.
Professor Kim Jong-Hyeok, Director of the Planning and Coordination Division at Asan Medical Center said, “Within a short period, automated bed assignment and RPA improved work efficiency and we have achieved higher staff satisfaction. Each staff member who was previously involved in patient registration can save an estimated three hours a day now.”
The use of automation in different ways highlights the broader trends of digitisation and process automation in the Indian healthcare sector. It also opens up room for new opportunities for healthcare institutions, providers, companies, and startups to look for the potential of automation technologies for enhanced patient care delivery.
Trends and predictions for 2024 and beyond
According to NASSCOM, data and AI in healthcare have the potential to add about US$25 billion to India’s GDP by 2025. Automation technologies like AI benefit the healthcare industry through a wide range of applications. It provides a better understanding of human biology to manage patient data and improve the functioning of hospitals. It also revolutionises the healthcare system using algorithms and devices that help to envision, assimilate and enforce necessary actions.
Today, automation is being actively used across various healthcare domains including wearable sensors, medical imaging, managing surgical robots, virtual assistants, telemedicine, and more. Furthermore, it is being used in drug discovery and development. It is predicted that advancements in automation and AI and the use of cutting-edge technologies will significantly increase, leading to more focused treatments.
Conclusion
There are vast opportunities brought up by automation technologies in the pharma and healthcare industry. The integration of automation in the industry will introduce a transformative shift that holds numerous promises towards its growth.
Industrial Automation believes that as technology continues to advance, it is essential for healthcare providers and institutions to remain adaptive and responsive to emerging trends for operational efficiency. They also must look to enhance the quality, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare for all segments of the population.
References:
1. https://www.cadilapharma.com/blog/healthcare/how-is-digital-technology-helping-indian-pharma-companies/
2. https://www.arcweb.com/industry-best-practices/india-pharmaceutical-adopting-automation-technologies
3. https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/pharma/technological-revolution-in-indian-healthcare-and-pharma-a-glimpse-into-2024-and-beyond/104809965
4. https://indiaai.gov.in/article/ai-in-indian-healthcare-sector-promises-and-challenges
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