If there’s one thing that never changes, it’s broken vending machines. The only thing worse than not being able to get your favorite snack from a vending machine is not being able to get your ibuprofen from a vending machine.
A new machine arrived on campus this year to provide students with a range of medicines and other health-related products. However, there is only one machine, and it is not only already broken, but has remained broken for quite some time. After weeks of confusion, the cause of the breakdown and a solution to get it working again have finally been discovered.
The machine provides medical support supplies such as generic Plan B, generic Zyrtec, generic Mucinex, laxatives, topical antibiotic ointment, tampons and condoms.
Miranda Wilhelm, a clinical professor in the School of Pharmacy, said she is one of the people responsible for deciding what products will be in the kiosks, managing the inventory and making sure the stock is up to date.
Wilhelm said the kiosks were born out of a legal requirement to provide emergency contraception.
“Illinois passed a law [Senate Bill 1907] “This law required all public institutions of higher education to sell emergency contraception in some sort of vending machine,” Wilhelm said.
Wilhelm said the kiosks are essential because students will likely need these resources even after other on-campus services end.
“We provide emergency contraception as well as other health-related and self-care products to students when health services or Union Station are not available,” Wilhelm said. “This allows students easy and cost-effective access to time-sensitive medications.”
Health Services Division Director Molly Bohnenstiel said the machines will be extremely beneficial for students who have limited transportation options.
“if [MUC] During school hours, students can access the kiosks to [necessary medical] “I think that sometimes it can be detrimental to a student’s mental health if they’re worried about things like that,” Bohnenstiel said. “I think it gives students a sense of security knowing that we’re available when they need us. Transportation isn’t always easy for students around here, so we make it available.”
Wilhelm said the reason the vending machines have been out of order for so long is due to contractual complexities.
“Unfortunately, we have had technical issues processing payments. The university needs to contract with a credit card terminal to allow payments to be made at the kiosks and is in contract negotiations,” Wilhelm said.
The possibility of expanding the number of machines on campus depends on the success of the first one, Wilhelm said.
“Currently, there are no plans for additional machines, but we have seen great interest from students. [to add more]”, the health services department needs to look into that,” Wilhelm said. “I think there’s potential for growth in the future with the kiosk on campus and other locations. It just depends on how well this kiosk gets used.”
