Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

On Cue Compliance

last updated Jul 23, 2012

Overview

Implementing organization: 
SIMpill, Tellumat
Legal Status: 
Private (not-for-profit)
Year Launched: 
2007
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
All income levels

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Funders: 
SIMpill, Western Cape Provincial Department of Health

Technology

Technology Used: 
Phones › SMS/MMS (Text Message), Other
Technology Purpose: 
Facilitating Patient Communications › Encouraging Patient Compliance
Summary: 

On Cue Compliance uses specially designed pill bottles to ensure adherence to drug regimens for critical diseases such as TB and HIV/AIDS.

Program goals/rationale: 

Reminders to take daily medication are an effective means to ensure drug regime adherence, which is critical for diseases like TB, where 99% of those infected can be cured with proper medication compliance.

Key program components: 

The SIMpill solution is designed to help ensure compliance. SIMpill works by equipping a pill bottle with a SIM card and transmitter. When the pill bottle is opened, an SMS message is sent to a designated healthcare worker. If the pill bottle is not opened when expected, the patient gets a text message reminder to take the medication. If the patient then fails to comply, the health worker is prompted to call or visit to encourage the taking of medication. A 2007 pilot in South Africa to test the system’s efficacy yielded impressive results. The pilot showed that with SIMpill, 90% of patients complied with their medication regimen, compared to the typical 22% to 60% compliance rate without the system. The solution is now available worldwide.

Additional Information

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