A novel online service to support self-care and responsible self-medication

Project Information

MEDimprove

Grant agreement ID: 743863

DOI 10.3030/743863

Project closed

EC signature date 23 November 2016

Start date 1 November 2016

End date 30 April 2017

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Health, demographic change and well-being

Total cost € 71 429,00

EU contribution € 50 000,00

Coordinated by

SERFARMA LDA
Portugal

Objective

People often use over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to treat minor health problems and see these medicines as safe. Yet, like any other, OTC medicines present risks and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. To minimize these problems, the decision to self-medicate must take into account all patient's characteristics and relevant medicine information. Despite the risks, self-medication is an increasing practice worldwide and OTC medicines are easily available in stores and for online sale, without counselling from a healthcare provider, in EU and USA.
In this global context, we created MEDimprove, a web platform for patients that supports responsible self-care and self-medication. The software is a clinical decision support system based on a complex algorithm that integrates all relevant patient and medicine variables and suggests the adequate safe treatment for each patient. It provides health information and personalized health counselling in a convenient, user-friendly and confidential environment. By integrating with online medicine stores, MEDimprove also gives the possibility to buy OTC medicines and other health products. For these stores, MEDimprove will increase sales by providing users with a professional and personalized counselling.
Patients have free access to MEDimprove. Revenues come from: sales fees from pharmacies/medicine stores and advertising from pharmaceutical companies. We expect revenues of nearly 1.9 million euros in 3 years in a growing market of online OTC and dermocosmetics sales (which represent 15% of all online shopping and annual CAGR of the EU Market above 8%).
We founded serFarma in 2014, providing innovative pharmaceutical services aiming to increase patients’ quality of life by using technology to promote the adequate use of medicines. We have invested over 150.000€ of own funds, and have started having revenues in March 2016.

Fields of science

Not validated

• natural sciences › computer and information sciences › internet › internet access
• social sciences › sociology › demography › mortality
• medical and health sciences › basic medicine › pharmacology and pharmacy › pharmaceutical drugs
• social sciences › economics and business › business and management › commerce › e-commerce
• social sciences › economics and business › business and management › business models

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.3.1. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Health, demographic change and well-being Main Programme
• H2020-EU.3.1.4. - Active ageing and self-management of health
• H2020-EU.2.1.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
• H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
• H2020-EU.3.1.6. - Health care provision and integrated care

Topic(s)

• SMEInst-06-2016-2017 - Accelerating market introduction of ICT solutions for Health, Well-Being and Ageing Well

Call for proposal

H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017

Funding Scheme

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

Coordinator

SERFARMA LDA

• Net EU contribution: € 50 000,00
• Address: RUA INSTITUTO PEDRO NUNES ED C RUA PEDRO NUNES ; 3030 199 COIMBRA ; Portugal
• SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes:
  Region
  Continente › Centro (PT) › Região de Coimbra
• Region: Continente › Centro (PT) › Região de Coimbra
• Activity type: Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
• Total cost: € 71 429,00