It automatically alerts the patient when it is time to take their medication and informs them whether they need to take their pills with food or water. The dispenser has a tiny microchip inside, which can read information on the card when it is inserted into the dispenser. The patient then takes the card to their pharmacist, who also has a smart card reader, and using information on the card, dispenses the prescribed medication into a dispenser. The doctor has a smart card reader and loads any prescription information onto the card.

When the patient goes to the doctor, they hand them a personalized smart card. 'It's an automated medicated management system for elderly people, aimed to improve communication between all groups involved in the process - including GPs (general practitioners), hospital doctors, pharmacists, the patients themselves and carers,' she told CNN. She developed it during her final year studying design at London's Brunel University. London-based Katrin Svabo Bech, 22, plans to market her invention, called PillAid and aimed particularly at helping the elderly, to the pharmaceutical industry.īech's creation involves a smart card and a dispenser.

LONDON, England (CNN) - It is a common scenario: you are on medication but you forget to take it - or worse, you cannot remember whether you took the pill you were due to take an hour ago.Ī design graduate has come up with a solution to the problem by using smart card technology, which prompts patients to take the correct medication at the correct time.

Elderly pill reminder