In total, the regional hospitals of the canton of Vaud have set up three similar pharmacies to supply them with medicines and provide a local pharmaceutical assistance.

However, there were two major problems: the lack of a permanent pharmaceutical service within the hospitals in case of emergencies and the cost of the products, as isolated purchases did not allow economies of scale.

[3] Then, at the end of 2016, the HRC entrusted it with the entire supply of drugs for its Aigle and Monthey sites, as well as with the responsibility for their pharmaceutical assistance.

[15] On this occasion, the PHEL also modernised its equipment with the acquisition of a global dispensing robot and with the development of new services, in particular that of ward pharmacy technicians.

[25][26] Since the end of 2022, like all European hospital pharmacies, it is confronted with a significant shortage of medicines in the context of the 2021–2023 global supply chain crisis.

[27][28] Within the Vaud Hospital Federation, the three inter-hospital pharmacies, PHEL, PIC and PHNVB, work together, in particular by negotiating preferential purchasing conditions with pharmaceutical suppliers.

[4] The PHEL is a partner of several private clinics on Riviera vaudoise and of about fifteen nursing homes in eastern Vaud, including those of the Claire Magnin Foundation.

Whether for its member hospitals, private clinics or nursing homes, the PHEL purchases many medicines in directly from the pharmaceutical industry.

[16][32] Many pharmacy technicians also work directly in the wards, some of which are equipped with automated dispensing cabinets at the HRC, thus helping to improve the safety, traceability and stock management of drugs.

[16] Through its pharmaceutical assistance and clinical pharmacy activities, the PHEL aims to promote effective, safe and economical pharmacotherapy for patients in its partner institutions.