A modular automated dispensing system (600, 700, 800) for dispensing secured medications in a medical environment, the modular automated dispensing system (600, 700, 800) comprising: a compact enclosure configured to be disposed on a support surface above a floor in a medical treatment area, wherein the compact enclosure does not require floor space in the medical treatment area, the compact enclosure comprising side surfaces, a rear surface, a front surface, a bottom surface and a top surface; a drawer lock assembly; one or more drawers (210, 610, 620, 810, 820) for storing medications, each drawer configured to be secured in the compact enclosure when locked by the drawer lock assembly, and each drawer configured to be slideably openable from the compact enclosure when unlocked by the drawer lock assembly; a plurality of compartments (630, 640) disposed within a first drawer, the plurality of compartments (630, 640) comprising one or more first compartments, each first compartment having an interior that is accessible upon slideably opening the first drawer, and one or more second compartments, each second compartment having an individual compartment lid with a lock with the individual compartment lid coupled only to that second compartment, and a compartment interior that is not accessible upon initial opening of the first drawer; an external scanning device configured to scan and enter information associated with the removable compartment upon removing or adding the removable compartment from or to the first drawer; and a built in access control device disposed within the top surface of the compact enclosure, wherein the built in access control device is a biometric input device and wherein the entirety of the biometric input device is recessed below the top surface of the compact enclosure, the biometric input device operatively coupled to the drawer lock assembly configured to unlock the first drawer based on received authorization input, wherein the first drawer is fully openable to expose all of the plurality of compartments (630, 640) when unlocked, characterized in that at least one of the plurality of compartments (630, 640) is removable and configured to be replaced with a similarly sized removable compartment pre-loaded with medications. a compact enclosure configured to be disposed on a support surface above a floor in a medical treatment area, wherein the compact enclosure does not require floor space in the medical treatment area, the compact enclosure comprising side surfaces, a rear surface, a front surface, a bottom surface and a top surface; a drawer lock assembly; one or more drawers (210, 610, 620, 810, 820) for storing medications, each drawer configured to be secured in the compact enclosure when locked by the drawer lock assembly, and each drawer configured to be slideably openable from the compact enclosure when unlocked by the drawer lock assembly; a plurality of compartments (630, 640) disposed within a first drawer, the plurality of compartments (630, 640) comprising one or more first compartments, each first compartment having an interior that is accessible upon slideably opening the first drawer, and one or more second compartments, each second compartment having an individual compartment lid with a lock with the individual compartment lid coupled only to that second compartment, and a compartment interior that is not accessible upon initial opening of the first drawer; an external scanning device configured to scan and enter information associated with the removable compartment upon removing or adding the removable compartment from or to the first drawer; and a built in access control device disposed within the top surface of the compact enclosure, wherein the built in access control device is a biometric input device and wherein the entirety of the biometric input device is recessed below the top surface of the compact enclosure, the biometric input device operatively coupled to the drawer lock assembly configured to unlock the first drawer based on received authorization input, wherein the first drawer is fully openable to expose all of the plurality of compartments (630, 640) when unlocked, characterized in that at least one of the plurality of compartments (630, 640) is removable and configured to be replaced with a similarly sized removable compartment pre-loaded with medications.