A South African company has launched a Skype-linked service for patients to help them take their prescribed chronic medication regularly and on time.
The result is optimal chronic disease management and enhanced health and wellness, according to Wisepill, so patients enjoy a longer hospital-free lifestyle.
It is estimated that about 70 percent of all prescribed medicines are not taken. In the developed world, conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension, high cholesterol and depression require a strict adherence to prescribed medication for treatment to be effective.
Wisepill uses Skype to set up interactive medicine reminders for an individual or caregiver.
The once-off cost for the Wisepill application is $35 (R230).
By entering prescriptions and setting up interactive reminders, Wisepill allows users to log their medication by placing a call to a SkypeIn phone number.
If patients forget to take their medication, they are reminded on their cellphones, with a Skype SMS.
The Wisepill application can be downloaded from the Skype Extras Gallery or the "do more" section of the Skype client.
"Wisepill is a South African company, offering a global, cost-effective disease management solution," said its CEO, Lloyd Marshall.
"Skype has provided us with an excellent communication vehicle so customers can be only a few mouse clicks away from enjoying optimum health and wellness."
Marshall was CEO of SIMpill, which launched the world's first real-time medication adherence management system in 2005 using cellphones.