Mobile medicine: app eDrug to remind Hong Kong patients not to miss their medication
New app eDrug will remind patients to take their drugs and offer tips, but plans to involve the Hospital Authority have come to nothing so far
Local pharmacists are looking to roll out a mobile app that reminds patients to take medication and provides tips on managing drugs, after a recent study found electronic reminders were effective in encouraging tuberculosis patients on the mainland to follow their drug regimes.
The app, named eDrug, has been developed by the Society of Hospital Pharmacists and the Pharmaceutical Society.
According to a survey released by the Society of Hospital Pharmacists last November, 25 per cent of patients questioned in public hospitals did not take medication as instructed.
"We hope that in the future, the app could automatically remind patients to take drugs once the barcode on the packaging has been scanned," William Chui Chun-ming, the society's president, said.
The app also contains information on side effects and tips on taking medication. For example, video clips show how to use eye drops properly.
The app has been ready for six months but has not been made available yet as its developers hoped to work with the Hospital Authority to include drug information needed for the app in barcode labels on drug packaging.