App to assist a smart patient

Technology has entered almost every sphere of our lives, from school, to work, to travel, to social interactions and other electronic devices that can help us do so much more. But, what can it do to help people stay healthier?

Smartpatient, a health software company that has designed the medication and health tracker app MyTherapy, is Germany’s fastest growing digital health start-up. They are now looking to make inroads in Africa and have begun to market the application and encourage medication adherence – the application’s primary purpose – across the continent.

Smartpatient was founded in 2013 when the founders saw the potential in creating a health app that is designed to help people adhere to their medication regimens and improve their overall health and well-being.

Since then, the company has won numerous awards for its innovation and commitment to improving individual lives. Medication adherence is an incredibly important topic, which is often overlooked, thus Smartpatient aims to create awareness about this issue and encourage people to use the app to help them manage various illnesses and conditions.

MyTherapy users can easily record important measurements, such as weight, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, track their mood and symptoms and even record results from lab tests. Users can also add physical activities to their daily or weekly tasks, thereby helping them to maintain healthy and active lifestyles.

All users have to do is log their medication and then set the relevant times for medication intake. It does not matter how complex the regimen is, the app is designed to help users manage these complex regimens in an efficient and easy-to-use manner. Furthermore, different alarm times can be set for weekends, meaning that the app fits in with the user’s lifestyle and schedules. When the medication is due to be taken, the alarm will sound and will continue to remind users to do so until they click on the ‘confirm’ button.

Within a South African context, statistics indicate that chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and diabetes are on the rise due to lifestyle changes and continued urbanisation.

The same can be said for mental illnesses and the prevalence and incidence of HIV in South Africa is still worryingly high, despite breakthroughs in antiretroviral therapy. All these illnesses have one thing in common: They require the strict and responsible intake of medication.

Without medication or taking medication correctly for these illnesses, the consequences can be catastrophic. It is therefore clear that medication adherence is absolutely imperative, especially within a South African (and African context). MyTherapy aims to combat the challenge of non-adherence and help people live full, productive and healthy lives.

Talk to us by emailing our group editor, Daniella Potter, at daniellap@caxton.co.za