Monitoring conditions in pharmacies - a daily problem, not just a regulatory issue
A pharmacy is not only a point of sale for medicines, but above all a healthcare facility. Patients expect every product dispensed at the counter to remain fully effective and safe. Meanwhile, the conditions for storing medicines are often more stringent than they seem. Some medicines must be stored in refrigerated conditions (2–8 °C), while others remain stable at temperatures below 25 °C. In addition, air humidity can significantly affect the shelf life of both packaging and supplements.
Simple thermometers or hygrometers, which are read manually, only provide spot data. If the refrigerator stops cooling at night, the reading in the morning will show the correct value, and the pharmacist will have no knowledge of the several-hour temperature spike. This is not theory – such situations have occurred repeatedly and have led to losses.
How does CoolSens work? – a practical solution for monitoring sensitive products
CoolSens is a system consisting of sensors (Node) and a concentrator (CloudHub) that collects and transmits data to the CoolSens Cloud. Installation is easy – Velcro instead of drilling, no cables and no need to connect to Wi-Fi.
In practice, the whole system can be up and running in a matter of minutes, even in a busy pharmacy, without any downtime.
The system monitors conditions 24/7 and generates automatic alerts as soon as values exceed the norm. Data is archived for up to 10 years and available online – both on a computer, via an internet platform and in the CoolSens mobile application.
You can read about how notifications and alarms work in the CoolSens system in the article:
👉How notifications work in the CoolSens system
If you are interested in how the application works, be sure to check out the article:
👉 The CoolSens application from A to Z: How to control…
The practical scope of the system's operation
The system consists of two components with different operating conditions:
- CoolSens Node sensors – temperature measurement range from –80 °C to +60 °C.
- CloudHub data concentrator – operates at temperatures from +5 °C to +50 °C.
The device’s parameters allow it to be used in pharmacy refrigerators, cold stores and storage rooms, and, when connected to an additional sensor, also in deep-freeze freezers.
Detailed information on the installation and assembly of the CoolSens system is available on a dedicated website:
👉 Help Centre – CoolSens
Temperature and humidity control in pharmacies – why is it worthwhile?
- Protection of medicines and reduction of financial losses
The cost of a single batch of vaccines or insulin often reaches several thousand zlotys. The loss of such a stock due to overheating is not only a measurable financial loss, but also a serious organisational problem – patients do not receive their treatment on time. The temperature and humidity monitoring system enables immediate response by staff, effectively reducing the risk of real product losses.
- Organisational support and time savings for staff
Pharmacists usually have a busy schedule — dispensing medicines, electronic prescriptions, patient service. Daily manual reading and recording of temperatures is additional bureaucracy. Thanks to recorders and sensors, data is collected automatically,
and reports can be generated with a single click. You can find out more about how to create and export reports in the system in the online guide.
- Documentation and certainty in the event of an inspection
It is not just about future regulations resulting from the Minister of Health’s decree. Inspections already take place regularly, and documenting the correct storage conditions for medicines is an argument that closes the issue in a matter of minutes. Instead of binders with printouts, the pharmacist opens the application and shows the ready report.
- Stability even in difficult conditions
The CoolSens system operates independently of Wi-Fi and has its own battery power supply.
This is particularly important where the network is unstable or where monitoring must continue even during a power failure — i.e. when the risk of losing medicines is greatest.
- Scalability and flexibility
The system can be tailored to individual needs: from a single refrigerator in a small pharmacy to a dozen rooms in a warehouse or hospital. Installation without drilling means that the devices can be easily moved if the layout changes.
What if you don't want to rely on regulations?
Temperature and humidity monitoring is increasingly becoming a topic of discussion
in connection with new regulations, including the controversial regulation of the Minister of Health specifying the basic conditions for running a pharmacy. However, these arguments are only part of the picture. The true value of CoolSens only becomes apparent when we look at everyday practice:
- Patient safety – the most important reason. Medicines remain effective only under the right conditions. If a pharmacist is sure that that they have been stored correctly, they do not risk dispensing an ineffective product.
- Peace of mind for the pharmacy manager or owner – no stress that something has been overlooked. The system works independently, sends notifications and archives data. The pharmacy manager can focus on patients and staff instead of monitoring refrigerators and warehouses.
- Building patient trust – more and more people are asking whether their medicines have been stored properly. Showing a modern monitoring system is a real argument that sets the pharmacy apart from the competition.
- Effective management – analysis of long-term data allows you to determine, for example, that there is chronically high humidity in the warehouse. Implementing simple solutions (e.g. dehumidifiers) improves working conditions
and the shelf life of the product range.
In practice, CoolSens is a tool that helps to meet requirements, but also provides support in the day-to-day management of a pharmacy.
Monitoring temperature and humidity in pharmaceutical establishments is a real need today. As the manufacturer of the CoolSens system, we strive to respond to this need in a practical way:
- simple and hassle-free installation,
- continuous 24/7 data,
- real-time alarms and notifications,
- mobile access from anywhere,
- reports and data archiving.
Implementing an environmental monitoring system is an investment in quality and professionalism that goes beyond mere compliance with regulations.
* This article refers to regulations applicable in Poland. Check the local industry regulations regarding temperature and humidity control requirements✅🌍
