Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Campus-Wide Pharmacy Vending Machine Program.

This article focuses on Purdue University's implementation and evaluation of Pharmacy Vending Machines (PhVMs) to increase student access to affordable, over-the-counter health-related items, including family planning products and cold/flu remedies. Initiated in January 2021 through an interdisciplinary collaboration between the College of Health and Human Sciences and the College of Pharmacy, the program began with two machines and expanded to four by August 2021, based on positive usage data and student demand. The initiative included needs assessments, strategic placement in high-traffic campus locations, and multimedia awareness campaigns, resulting in steady increases in product access, particularly for emergency contraception and menstruation products. The article offers practical recommendations for other universities interested in adopting similar PhVM programs to improve health product accessibility while addressing privacy and affordability concerns.