A Canadian company plans to have vending machines dispensing prescription drugs in three countries by this fall.

PharmaTrust introduced the machines in Britain this week, already has three operating in Ontario and expects to have them in five U.S. states within a few months.

The device, called a MedCentre, combines an automated drug delivery system with an audio-visual link with a pharmacist.

"I walk up to the MedCentre, touch the screen, pick up the phone. That alerts the pharmacists back at our office that the patient is at the MedCentre and would like to use it," explained PharmaTrust spokeswoman Susan Fenton.

A patient is prompted to place the prescription into a scanner. The image is reviewed by the pharmacist, who verifies it's legitimate and ensures the required medication is available in the machine.

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