And now, your Botika-on-the-Go
MANILA, Philippines - Taking stock of one’s medicines can be tedious especially for those who are on maintenance medication. In extremely sensitive cases, missing a dose could have perilous consequences.
This is a common problem addressed by a mobile application developed by a team of students from the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU). Called Botika-on-the-Go, the app integrates medical information, inventory, and medicine acquisition assistance.
Once commercially available, one’s mobile phone can help patients manage medication through information and records.
The app is one of the finalists in the recent 9th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards held by Smart Communications, Inc. “SWEEP†stands for Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program, the first-of-its-kind partnership between the telco industry and academe that seeks to enhance the quality of technology and engineering education in the country.
Botika-on-the-Go can be your personal pharmacist. It is a mobile app that integrates personal medical information, keeps track of the number of medicines you have, and assists in finding the nearest drugstore. It has a repository of information on drug type, generic name, and drug description. It keeps track of the user’s medications, history, and profile. It also contains a directory and geolocation of drug stores.
With medical information as one of its key features, the app can serve as a medical concordance. The user simply inputs the medicine name or a drug type, and the app will automatically show a list of generic drugs that match the search.
The inventory feature is similar to a medicine cabinet where the user can keep track of his medications as well as pertinent information including the medicine type, expiry date, and quantity.
The app’s medicine acquisition assistance directs you to the nearest drugstore. The app can also store the patient’s medication history together with a profile, which can come in handy during medical emergencies.
In developing the app, the students wanted to help out sick elders and relatives who are taking daily management medicines or maintenance drugs, which are prescribed for chronic, long-term conditions, and are taken on a regular, recurring basis to manage the patient’s symptoms.
The app is not only for the elderly, though, but also for those aged 35 and up who are already taking at least two maintenance drugs.
“We would like to see our product and extensive market plan work out. We believe in this idea and once commercially available, could be critical in saving lives,†says team leader Cham Luna.
For one, he said the product needs servers and further development.
The app was a collaboration of ADMU students from various disciplines. Luna, Alfie Peña, JR Repollo, and Joshua Mendoza are electronics and communications engineering students. Bryan Lao is a computer engineering student, while Rhesa Janubas and Louie Koa are taking up management. Except for Koa, all are graduating this school year. They were mentored by SWEEP alumnus Daniel Lagazo.
“We’re seeing more innovations enabled by mobile technologies, making the phone more than just a communications tool but as an enabler for new and better experiences. These mobile apps attempt to find solutions to our everyday woes and are actually practical,†notes Ramon Isberto, Smart Public Affairs Group head.
Botika-on-the-Go, or Pharmacy-on-the-Go, was also picked as winner of the first Voyager Special Award. Voyager is a newly-established subsidiary of Smart that focuses on innovations outside of the company’s core business like mobile health or mHealth.
“Smart has always been ahead of its peers in supporting mHealth initiatives aimed at improving the delivery of health-care services in the country. Voyager is now looking at innovations that provide solutions to problems, including those relating to health,†says Voyager consultant Benjie Fernandez.
To know more about SWEEP and the apps, visit http://www.smartsweep.ph.
