Pill tracking device promises targeted, personalised care An innovative solution to help patients self-medicate correctly is nearly market-ready, thanks in part to EU funding. Health © Halfpoint, Shutterstock An ageing population has led to an increase in chronic diseases, and a consequent increase in the amount of medication taken to cover various ailments. Patients suffering from a variety of conditions often need to take several medications daily. This increases the risk of essential treatments being missed, duplicated or taken at the wrong time. “Medicines are usually dispensed in boxes that are not personalised to each patient’s needs,” explains SIGUEMED project coordinator Antonio Rey, CEO of Infármate in Spain. “It is often difficult for patients – especially elderly patients – to remember everything that has to be taken on a daily basis without making mistakes. Electronic custom medicinal dispensing systems do exist, but those currently on the market tend to be very expensive and complicated to use.” Developing a digital solution To address this health challenge, Infármate has developed SIGUEMED, a cost-effective digital solution that is specifically designed to be easy to use. The innovation aims not only to help patients self-medicate, but also to bring patients, caregivers and pharmacists closer together. “As a pharmacist I know how difficult it is for many patients to adhere to courses of medication,” comments Rey. The solution includes a smart personalised blister pack with printed electronic circuits in its foil. This means that caregivers and pharmacists can track when a pill has been taken. “Printing with electronic ink enabled us to lower the cost to that of a classic blister pack, but with a remarkable increase in added value,” says Rey. Secondly, a mobile app alerts the patient to take pills at the correct time. And if a mistake has been made, a cascade of alerts can be sent to contact people such as relatives, caregivers and pharmacists. “Real-time information allows caregivers and health workers to intervene quickly if needed,” adds Rey. “We know whether a family member is OK or not, simply by seeing whether they have taken their medication on time.” Getting ready for market A key moment in the development of the SIGUEMED solution was being awarded an EU SME grant. This enabled feasibility studies to be carried out, to determine the technical and economic viability of the device in preparation for market entry. “This project allowed us to reach the pre-industrialisation phase that we are currently in,” notes Rey. “A pre-industrialisation study for example helped us to identify, among other things, the kind of quantities we need to manufacture to be cost-effective. This has been very important in estimating final costs.” Rey and his team are now ready to improve and redefine the final design. Pre-agreements have been made with several distributors in Spain and Portugal. Rey hopes to eventually develop commercial activities across the whole of Europe. “Our ultimate goal is to create a network of pharmacies across Europe trained to work with SIGUEMED,” Rey highlights. “The information collected and disseminated through the device should lead to more effective and targeted treatment.” The end result, Rey hopes, will be a noticeable improvement in the health of patients. “The numbers of those with a range of chronic illnesses are increasing every day due in part to increased life expectancy,” he concludes. “Through cost-effectively harnessing technology, we think that this device has the potential to improve the provision of healthcare.” Keywords SIGUEMED, Infármate, medication, pill, ageing, chronic, disease, pharmacists, healthcare
