Challenges and Potential of 3D Printing in Healthcare

Could the much-hyped technology of 3D printing have found a useful application - producing personalised prescription pills?

Ed Butler visits the lab of Dr Mohamed Alhnan at King's College London, to see this cottage manufacturing process in action - in this case making caffeine tablets. Meanwhile entrepreneur Melissa Snover has launched the world’s first 3D-printed personalised and chewable vitamin supplement provider, called Nourished.

But what about prescription pills? Can this technology reliably produce powerful medicines at scale, and meet the necessary regulatory requirements? Karen Taylor, research director of the Centre for Health Solutions at Deloitte, isn't so sure.

Producer: Joshua Thorpe

(Picture: White pills against a red background; Credit: BiffBoffBiff/Getty Images)