Blog - What is the technological future of medication management? (3 February 2022)

Summary

In the UK, over 26% of adults take prescription medications and in the US the figure is around 66%. But up to 50% of patients fail to take their medications as prescribed. As healthcare steadily pivots towards digital health, Dr. Bertalan Meskó and Dr. Pranavsingh Dhunno ask how new technologies can improve medication management. In this article for The Medical Futurist, they look at the importance of empowering patients to reduce the risk of medication errors.

They highlight five medication management technologies that could help patients improve their own medication safety:

1. Smart pill dispensers which deliver audible and visual cues to remind patients to take medications at the right time
2. Medication reminder apps which help manage medication regimens and can sync the data with a caregiver or doctor
3. Digital therapeutics which support patients to make treatment decisions
4. Digital pills which integrate tracking technology into pills themselves
5. Telemedical platforms that allow patients to request advice or raise concerns with their doctors.