KNAPS

약국의 키오스크(Kiosk) 도입

 

 

 

 

1. Kiosk란?

다소 생소할 수 있는 단어 ‘Kiosk’는 포르투갈어로 신문판매대라는 뜻을 가진 Quiosque에서 유래하였습니다. 이렇듯 Kiosk는 원래 신문이나 음료 등을 파는 매점, 가판, 자판기 등을 뜻하는 단어였지만 과학기술이 발전함에 따라 업무의 자동화, 무인화라는 의미를 포함한 ‘무인 정보 단말기’라는 개념으로 변화하였습니다.

 

 

 

2. 약국의 Kiosk 도입 

요즘 패스트푸드 매장, 극장, 또는 공항에 가면 ‘무인 주문 시스템’을 흔하게 접할 수 있습니다. 이와 같은 흐름에 따라 약국에도 ‘키오스크(Kiosk)’가 도입되기 시작했고, 이에 대한 다양한 입장을 보이고 있습니다.   

1) 긍정적인 입장

약국에 도입되는 키오스크는 판매와 주문 위주의 업무를 하는 일반상점의 키오스크와 달리 처방전 스캔을 통한 처방전 접수 및 결제 그리고 일부 업체의 경우 복약지도서까지 제공하고 있습니다. 

약국 키오스크 개발 업체는 처방전 접수 및 결제의 자동화로 인한 편의성을 통해 약사들이 복약상담에 더 집중할 수 있는 효율적인 업무환경을 만들어 줄 것이라고 강조하며, 키오스크의 더 많은 약국 진출을 기대하고 있습니다. 

이에 일부 약사들도 단순업무의 자동화를 통해 보다 효율적인 약국 운영이 가능할 것이라는 기대감을 보이고 있습니다. 

실제로 키오스크를 도입한 문전약국의 피드백에 의하면 초기엔 노령층의 기계사용에 대한 거부감과 시스템 오류 등의 어려움들이 있었지만 시간이 지날수록 업무 효율성이 높아졌습니다. 또한, 최근 주변 약국들도 하나 둘 키오스크를 도입하고 있는 추세로 보아 보급률이 더욱 높아질 것으로 전망하고 있습니다.

 


2) 부정적인 입장

하지만, 약국의 키오스크 도입에 대한 부정적인 입장들도 적지 않습니다. 

우선, 키오스크의 단순 입력은 의약품을 조제하는 약국에서 실용성이 떨어질 수 있습니다. 처방전 그대로 접수 및 결제가 되면, 재고의 부족이나 미등록 의약품으로 인해 대체조제를 할 때 오히려 업무를 수정해야 해서 번거로움이 증가할 수 있습니다.

또 일부 의료기관의 무분별한 처방으로 인한 약물의 오용 및 남용 발생시, 약사가 처방전을 직접 보고 무엇이 문제인지 여부를 판단하고 조제해야 하는데 그것이 불가능해지고, 대면 복약지도 또한 기계에 의해 대체되어 약사의 역할을 침해한다는 우려하는 목소리도 있습니다. 

 


3. 결론

그러나, 많은 우려와 부정적인 의견에도 키오스크는 이미 약국이라는 거대 시장에 자리를 잡고 있습니다.  

현재의 도입비용과 실용적인 측면, 기술적인 한계를 고려했을 때 약국의 키오스크 도입은 경쟁력이 다소 떨어질 수 있지만, 앞으로의 기술발전과 시대적 흐름을 고려했을 때 미래의 약사들은 이러한 변화에 대해 고민해 봐야 할 것입니다. 따라서 키오스크 도입 여부에 대해 논쟁을 하는 것이 아니라, 도입되었을 때를 준비해야 한다고 생각합니다. 

키오스크의 도입이 약사의 직능을 침범하지 않고, 오히려 단순 업무 감소를 통한 약사의 직능의 강화로 이어지도록 하는 기술적, 제도적인 개선이 뒷받침 되어야 할 것입니다. 약사들이 키오스크 시장에 많은 관심을 가지고 시스템 및 제도를 개선시킨다면, 약사들의 업무 환경 뿐만아니라 국민 보건에도 긍정적인 영향을 줄 것이라 생각합니다. 


 

 

 

 

 


Introduction of Kiosk in Pharmacy

 

 

 

 


1. What is ‘Kiosk’?

The somewhat unfamiliar word "Kiosk" comes from Quiosque, which means newspaper stand in Portuguese. Originally, kiosk was a word meaning stands, stalls, vending machines, etc. that sell things like newspapers and drinks. But with the development of science and technology, the concept has changed into  'Unmmaned information terminal' which includes the meaning of automation and unmanned task.

 


2. Kiosk in Pharmacy

Nowadays, ‘Unmanned ordering systems’ can be seen easily when we go to fast food restaurants, theaters, or airports. In line with this trend, pharmacies have begun to introduce ‘kiosk’, and they are taking a variety of perspectives.


1) Pros 

Unlike kiosk of general stores which focuses on sales and ordering, kiosk  introduced in pharmacies can take prescriptions and payments by scanning the prescription and in some cases, even provide medication guidance.

Pharmacy kiosk developers are expecting more kiosks to enter the pharmacy, emphasizing that the convenience of automating prescription receipt and payment will provide an efficient work environment that allows pharmacists to focus more on medication counseling.

Some pharmacists expressed the expectation that more efficient pharmacy management would be possible by automating simple chores.

Actually, according to the feedback of the pharmacy that introduced the kiosk, in the early stage, there were difficulties such as refusal of using machine by the elderly and system errors, but efficiency has increased over time. And the supply rate is expected to be even higher as neighboring pharmacies are also introducing kiosks one by one recently.


2) Cons

However, there are also a number of negative perspectives on the introduction of kiosk.

First of all, the simple input of a kiosk may be impractical in pharmacy when  dispensing medicines. If a prescription is received and paid as it is, there may be an increase in the hassle of modifying the task when a replacement is made due to a lack of inventory or an unregistered drug.

In case of misuse or abuse of drugs due to reckless prescription of some medical institutions, the pharmacist should check the prescription directly and decide what is the problem and then fill a prescription, but this is not possible. And Some have expressed concern that face-to-face medication guidance may be replaced by machines so kiosk can invade the role of a pharmacist.



3. Conclusion

But even with so many concerns and negative opinions about kiosk, it is already permeating into our huge pharmaceutical market.

Considering cost of installation, practical side, and technical limitations, introduction of kiosk may not be a reasonable choice, but when considering future technological developments and the flow of the times, these changes are something that future pharmacists will have to ponder. Therefore, we should be prepared for these changes like introduction of kiosk, not arguing about whether to adopt it or not.

Technical and institutional improvements should be supported so that the introduction of kiosk does not violate the pharmacists’ roles, but rather strengthens them by reducing simple tasks. If pharmacists pay much attention to the kiosk market and improve the system, there will be a positive effect not only on the working environment of the pharmacists but also on the public health.