"Worthless" Mater Dei Hospital medicine robots cause mass resignations
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Occurred: August 2021
Page published: August 2021 | Page last updated: June 2024
Two robots tasked with distributing medicine across Mater Dei Hospital in Malta were criticised for repeatedly breaking down, stocking the wrong drugs and providing incorrect medicine dosages to patients.
The Deenova robotic system was introduced by the hospital in 2019 to dispense medicines and reduce human error in the distribution and dosage of medicines. The robots, nicknamed Mario, were part of a multi-million-euro investment.
The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) described the robots as 'worthless' and a 'complete failure', wuth nurses having to double-check the work done by the machines, borrow drugs from adjacent wards, and revert back to the old manual system of medicine distribution.
Furthermore, the union claimed eight nurses in one ward resigned since the robots' introduction, with the rest demanding to be transferred. It demanded that the system was removed.
Malta health minister Chris Fearne defended the introduction of the machines by saying they would increase efficiency and they were meant to help and not replace nurses.
System 🤖
System 🤖
Mario robot
Operator: Mater Dei Hospital
Developer: Deenova
Country: Malta
Sector: Gov - health
Purpose: Distribute medicines
Technology: Robotics
Issue: Accountability; Accuracy/reliability; Employment/labour; Transparency
Timeline ⏰
Timeline ⏰
October 2018. Government announces a €12–€25 million investment in medical AI and robotics.
November 2018. The "PillPick" system by Swisslog/Deenova is selected.
2019. The first robot, "Mario," is installed for a pilot project in a single ward.
2020–2021. Repeated technical failures; technicians and project managers resign.
August 2021. MUMN declares the system a "total failure" and instructs nurses to boycott the training and use of the robots.
AIAAIC Respository ID: AIAAIC0718
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