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BUSINESS TODAY 13 June 2019

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13.06.19 TRENDSETTERS MATER Dei's fi rst medicine robot, named Mario will help doctors and nurses prescribe the right medicine, the right dosage, and potentially elimi- nate all human error that could result in intoxication from the dangerous chemical combina- tion. e fi rst of 17 robots arrived at Mater Dei hospital earlier this week and will be now used to train doctors and nurses. e full line is expected to be deployed by 2021. Mario, a box-like refrigerator will be paired up to computers and laptops in use by doctors and nurses. Doctors will then issue a barcode for their re- spective patients. When the barcode is scanned by nurses and pharmacists, the computer launches a software called Sofi a which will show the exact dosage and type of medication prescribed by the doctor. Mario will then issue that treatment into a smart trolley, which will be delivered to the patient. While the machinery costs €12 million, the government won't be paying a lump sum since the agreement with con- tractor Deenova is that the government will fork out the payment with the money the project will generate via logis- tic effi ciency. e contract is expected to run for 15 years. "In the hospital, pneumatic tubes attached to Mario will deliver the medicine prescribed to the patients in their respec- tive wards, said Mike Farrugia a management consultant who introduced Mario at Mater Dei on Monday. On his part, Mater Dei CEO Ivan Falzon said that the basis of Mario and Sofi a was simplic- ity and that every tool the hos- pital invested in should focus on effi ciency, simplicity and how to create a framework to cater for patient safety. "We also invested in upgrades in the hospital which will com- plement this project. Mario is considered innovative in the world and is being replicated in places like Holland and Ger- many," he said. Health Minister Chris Fearne said Mario would practical- ly eliminate all human error, such as doctors prescribing the wrong drugs or nurses replac- ing them. "Still, the best resource will always remain the human re- source," he said. State health service to roll out 17 'Mario' robots at Mater Dei by 2021 "Mario will practically eliminate all human error, such as doctors prescribing the wrong drugs or nurses replacing them," Health Minister Chris Fearne says

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