A Glasgow based tech start-up is aiming to tackle prescription medication wastage with the launch of a new app as research reveals 62% of Scots are currently taking at least one type of prescription medicine.
Talking Medicines has developed the healthcare app, Medsmart, which transforms complex medical information into video content for the user by asking them to scan the barcode on their medication.
It’s hoped that by condensing lengthy patient information leaflets into quick and simple video guides, people will be able to follow the instructions on their medicines more accurately and ultimately reduce the wastage caused by unfinished courses of medication.
Research commissioned by Talking Medicines revealed that 10% of Scots are currently taking six or more types of prescription medication, with this figure increasing to 17% in those over 55.
The findings also show that 48% of Scots don’t consistently read the patient information leaflet in its entirety when taking a new medication for the first time (22% answered only sometimes, 18% answered rarely and 8% answered never), with men being more likely than women to ignore the guidelines completely (9% of males said never, compared to only 6% of females).
The free app collects user data to compile patterns on how medicines are used and the company’s commercial model is underpinned by partnerships with pharmaceutical companies who will make sense of the medication usage patterns through the Medsmart insight portal.
Jo Halliday, CEO of Talking Medicines, said: “We’re really pleased to launch Medsmart to the public. People are using apps for everything nowadays, and as so many are on some kind of prescription medication it makes sense to use technology to help manage this.
“The app will help people manage medicines for themselves or for those they look after, making it easy to stay on track and ensure the full course of medication has been taken and in the correct way.
“Patient information leaflets can often be lengthy and written in hard to understand language. Medsmart makes this information more accessible and explains everything clearly and quickly.”
Nawar Tahir, Community Pharmacist, said:
“As a Locum Pharmacist I cover many different pharmacies in the Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Kilsyth and Forth Valley areas, so I’m well versed in the problems associated with prescription medication. An issue that I constantly encounter is wasted medication caused by patients forgetting to take their drugs. Many people I work with daily are taking several medications which need to be taken at different times.
“This can be confusing and result in untaken medication, then a return trip to the pharmacist or GP which costs the NHS in both money and time. An app like Medsmart is an invaluable resource for those who struggle with managing their medication whether they’ve got one pill to take or 10. The app provides that crucial reminder that patients wouldn’t usually have, allowing them to take better care of themselves and make the most out of the care their GP and pharmacist provide.”
Medsmart is available to download from Apple iOS and Android stores.