Automated dose dispensing strengthens Finnish healthcare through improved safety, efficiency and better use of resources
Did you know that automated dose dispensing can save an average of 15 hours of nursing time per patient per year?
13.4.2026
A Danish analysis shows that automated dose dispensing saves an average of 15 hours of nursing time per patient per year. Applied to Finland’s approximately 122 000 dose dispensing patients, the impact is striking:
1,83 million working hours saved every year, corresponding to about 1000 nurse working years.
A Finnish THL working paper reinforces this picture. When automated dose dispensing is combined with other medication‑management technologies, nurses in 24/7 care settings save an average of 22,5 working hours per year. This is time that healthcare organisations can redirect to what truly requires professional expertise: patient interaction, clinical assessment, and hands‑on care.
A safer way to manage medicines
Medication safety is a central responsibility for every health and social care organisation. Manual dispensing is a demanding, interruption-prone task, and studies show it carries a significantly higher risk of errors.
Automated dose dispensing strengthens safety by:
- Ensuring correct tablets, doses and timing in each pouch
- Reducing manual steps where most medication errors occur
- Providing traceability and consistency across care settings
Besides strengthening safety, automated dose dispensing reduces medicine waste. Medicines are supplied in precisely the quantities needed for a defined period, rather than whole packages, lowering unused stock.
Anja dose dispensing in Finland
Oriola’s automated dose dispensing service, Anja, supports safe, reliable and modern medication management across home care, housing services and long-term care. With strong experience and a robust distribution and quality system, it ensures:
- Seamless cooperation with pharmacies
- Secure and timely deliveries nationwide
- High reliability and safety standards
As a Nordic healthcare partner committed to building a healthier society, Oriola continues to invest in solutions that strengthen safety, support care continuity and create more time for meaningful patient care.
Time to act is now
Finnish healthcare faces multiple challenges, including workforce shortages, rising care needs, increasing system complexity and significant financial constraints. Technology and data solutions are advancing rapidly, and automated dose dispensing is already delivering measurable, system level benefits. By adopting dose dispensing more broadly, public-sector organisations can:
- Relieve pressure on frontline staff
- Improve patient safety
- Reduce medication waste
- Increase cost efficiency and predictability
- Enable professionals to focus on value creating work
Let’s create more time for care, together!
Samuli Lyly-Yrjänäinen, Director PharmaService