New building for the UKW hospital pharmacy officially opened / Medication safety continues to be expanded

In the new building, the hospital's own production area for cytostatics, i.e., specialized medications for cancer treatment, is also integrated. Over 62,000 of these infusion solutions are prepared here annually. (Image: UKW / Daniel Peter)

With the new "Unit-Dose" system, patients at UKW receive their medications in small, individually packaged sachets. Distribution only begins after pharmaceutical review and approval. (Image: UKW / Daniel Peter)

In August 2022, construction work began using modular construction. By summer 2024, the operation in the new UKW Clinic Pharmacy could then be gradually started. (Photo: UKW / Stefan Dreising)

The University Hospital Würzburg (UKW) officially commissioned the new building for the hospital pharmacy today (December 12). With the new construction, various sterile manufacturing areas of the pharmacy have now been consolidated at a single location. Together, UKW and the Free State of Bavaria invested around 20 million euros in the new building and the necessary equipment for the hospital pharmacy. The new building on the "Luitpold Campus" of UKW comprises two floors, a technical floor, and has a gross floor area of approximately 1,900 square meters. UKW built the new facility independently.

Construction began in August 2022

The building will house, among other things, patient-specific nutritional solutions and cytostatics, which are medications used, for example, in cancer therapy. "This now provides us with optimal spatial conditions equipped with the latest technology. Our patients will benefit directly from this," said Prof. Dr. Stefan Frantz, Deputy Medical Director of Würzburg University Hospital, at the opening.

The project was developed and implemented by the "Technology and Construction" division of UKW. Construction began in August 2022 using modular construction. A total of 44 prefabricated modules were needed for the new building. The special aspect: the basic equipment for the highly specialized work areas was already installed, enabling a rapid construction phase. Construction was completed by the end of 2023. This was followed by an intensive trial operation, quality checks, and official approvals before the start of production. By summer 2024, operations in the new building could be gradually commenced according to schedule.

Second clinic in Bavaria: Unit Dose supply successfully launched

With the commissioning, UKW became the second clinic in Bavaria to introduce a fully automated packaging and dispensing system for medication supply on the wards. The new "Unit Dose" system delivers medications in small, individually packed pouches tailored to each patient. Currently, twelve wards are connected, with additional wards being phased in over the coming months. Over 20,000 medication pouches are produced weekly.

Dr. Mareike Kunkel, Head of Pharmacy at UKW, explains the process: "In the Unit Dose system, tablets, capsules, or dragees are hygienically and safely packed into small pouches, labeled, and then electronically verified through a database check. These pouches are then distributed by nursing staff on the wards," said the pharmacist. The previous process of preparing medication for patients by the nursing staff on the wards is largely replaced by the delivery of pre-packaged medications.

The Unit Dose pouches display information such as the intended day and time of administration or the specific intake time. Additional details, such as the patient's name and date of birth, the number of tablets contained, or further instructions for medication intake, are also printed on the pouches. Currently, up to 750 solid oral medications can be integrated into the UKW's Unit Dose system. After pharmaceutical review and approval, the automatic dispensing into the pouches begins.

Parenteral cancer medications prepared centrally

The new building also houses the hospital's own production area for cytostatics, which are specialized medications for cancer treatment. Over 62,000 infusion solutions are prepared here annually. "This makes a significant contribution to advanced cancer therapy at UKW. The new building also positions us well for future developments in this field, such as preparing specialized medicines for innovative therapies. The UKW pharmacy is therefore of great importance for the future innovative capacity of medication supply at UKW," said Philip Rieger, Commercial Director of Würzburg University Hospital. An example of such therapies are cell therapeutics, as mentioned by Dr. Kunkel. These medications for novel therapies are grouped under the abbreviation "ATMP" ("Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products").

Approximately 90 people work in the UKW pharmacy

Almost 90 people work at the UKW hospital pharmacy across two locations. 25 of them are pharmacists, and a large part of the remaining staff are pharmaceutical technical assistants (PTA). The hospital pharmacy at UKW has been in operation since 1950, initially starting with five staff members. Until 1950, the university hospital was supplied by public pharmacies.