Clinical and operational applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in pharmacy: A narrative review of real-world applications

Over the past five years, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) including its significant subset, machine learning (ML), has significantly advanced pharmaceutical procedures in community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and pharmaceutical industry settings. Numerous notable healthcare institutions, such as Johns Hopkins University, Cleveland Clinic, and Mayo Clinic, have demonstrated measurable advancements in the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare delivery. Community pharmacies have seen a 40% increase in drug adherence and a 55% reduction in missed prescription refills since implementing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. According to reports, hospital implementations have reduced prescription distribution errors by up to 75% and enhanced the detection of adverse medication reactions by up to 65%. Numerous businesses, such as Atomwise and Insilico Medicine, assert that they have made noteworthy progress in the creation of AI-based medical therapies. Emerging technologies like federated learning and quantum computing have the potential to boost the prediction of protein–drug interactions by up to 300%, despite challenges including high implementation costs and regulatory compliance. The significance of upholding patient-centred care while encouraging technology innovation is emphasised in this review.