Tellumat-developed SIMpill SMART takes world by storm

SIMpill, which began life as a TB medication management system with record drug adherence stats, is stepping up its global thrust in new and enhanced form as the SIMpill SMART.

The new device, featuring multi-drug capability, is trialling in the UK and Holland, with more tests being planned in Italy, Norway and Germany.

Rasheed Hargey, CEO of South African technology innovator Tellumat, which develops and manufactures the device and owns 20% of SIMpill, says SIMpill SMART works in a similar way to the original solution. It has a pill dispenser that communicates with a secure server on being opened by a patient (to take medication).

Should the patient miss a medicating event, the server will send a reminder to the patient's handset and can, if required, also send a reminder message to a family member or caregiver, prompting follow up with the patient to establish the reason for non-adherence and to give assistance where needed.

“SIMpill assists patients in leading an active and free life, unconstrained by supervision, and helps them maintain their quality of life,” says Brendan Rens, MD of SIMpill. “It also relieves a huge financial burden on the healthcare system.”

Non-adherence to chronic medication regimes leads to significant waste in health expenditure and high mortality rates. In chronic infectious diseases it leads to drug resistance. For this reason medical aids, public health departments, life insurers and pharmaceutical companies have all shown avid interest in the SIMpill SMART system.

This goes on your record

Medication events and server responses are recorded and can be extracted in detailed reports to study adherence rates. “The reporting tool also helps caregivers to work more efficiently, by effectively managing patients ‘by exception',” continues Rens. “Instead of supervising every patient for adherence, caregivers need only be in contact with patients who don't comply.”

SIMpill SMART can be used to manage all regular drug events, such as the taking of contraceptives, and can also streamline communication between practitioners and patients, for example enabling automated reminders and prescription refill practice announcements and prompt slow payers. “All of this reduces cost and relieves administrative pressure on doctors. Once the patient's details and message schedule are entered, no further effort is required.”

A clear case for going beyond TB

“Given its proven success in achieving TB drug adherence rates of around 90% during patient trials*, it was clear the system's scope and geographic reach had to be extended,” says Rens.

“The SIMpill method of real-time adherence will change the way health care providers manage patients suffering from for example HIV, cancer, osteoporosis, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and Hepatitis C amongst other chronic diseases. It will relieve a massive burden on the healthcare system. And best of all, it can bring about an immense improvement in the quality of life of sufferers.”

* A six-month trial involving Three clinics in Khayelitsha in the Western Cape.

Tellumat
Riefqa Yusaf
Tel: +27 (0)21 710 2911
Cell: +27 (0)82 304 2144
Email: ryusaf@tellumat.com