BigPharma - Pharmaceutical Companion

Your Medications Made Easier

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Next Byte Hacks V5 - Social Good Project/ AI App

Inspiration/ Problem

My inspiration for BigPharma came from interning at two different pharmacies in Michigan, one in Bridgeport and another in Flint. During my time there, I got to see firsthand how important pharmacists are to their communities and how much people rely on their medications every day. However, I also noticed how complicated managing medications can be, especially for people taking multiple prescriptions or struggling with high medication costs.

I started thinking about how tech could address this problem. People shouldn't need to use multiple apps, search through different websites, or struggle to keep track of medications just to manage their health. That's what inspired me to build BigPharma, an app that brings everything together in one place and makes medication management simpler, more affordable, and more accessible.

BigPharma - Pharmaceutical Companion

What it does

BigPharma is an all-in-one pharmaceutical companion that makes managing medications much easier. Instead of having to remember every medication, look up information on different websites, or manually organize prescriptions, users can do everything in our app.

Users can add medications to their personal medication cabinet, create schedules, set reminders, track doses, and access important information about the medications they're taking. BigPharma also includes a camera feature that helps users scan medication bottles and review possible matches, making it easier to add medications without typing everything manually.

BigPharma

Tools Used

I built BigPharma using React Native, Expo, and TypeScript for the mobile app, with Supabase supporting database and backend functionality. I also used AI-assisted development tools to help with coding, debugging, and designing the interface, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Onspace, and Lovable. For BigPharma Connect, I developed a companion web platform using Vercel designed to make sharing medication information easier.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to bring all these different healthcare features into one app without making it confusing. Medication tracking, reminders, scanning, and pharmacy information all work super differently, so connecting everything took a lot of work and debugging.

Another challenge was handling medication information accurately. Since people will rely on this information, I wanted to make sure users could review scanned medications and understand what they were adding. I also had to think about privacy with BigPharma Connect, especially when sharing medication information with family members or caregivers.

BigPharma Connect

Key Features

  • Medication Cabinet - Organize medications, view important information, and keep track of prescriptions in one place.
  • Medication Reminders - Create schedules, receive reminders, and track completed doses.
  • Medication Scanner - Scan medication bottles with your camera to help identify and add medications.
  • Pharmacy Price Estimates - Explore nearby pharmacies and view estimated medication costs to help find more affordable options.
  • Drug Information - Access medication details, safety information, and supported drug interaction information.
  • BigPharma Connect - A companion web platform designed to let users share selected medication information with trusted family members and caregivers.
  • Simple Interface - A clean, easy-to-use design focused on making medication management more accessible.

What I learned

Building BigPharma taught me a lot about mobile app development, databases, connecting different features, and designing something people could actually use. I also learned how important accuracy, privacy, and simplicity are when building healthcare technology.

The biggest thing I learned is that solving a real problem is primarily about first understanding what people struggle with and then actually creating something that makes their everyday lives easier.

What's next for BigPharma

My biggest goal is to eventually bring BigPharma into real pharmacies, starting with the communities in Michigan. I want to work with pharmacists and pharmacy owners to integrate BigPharma into their everyday operations, making it easier for patients to access medication information, compare prices, and manage their prescriptions.

I also plan to improve medication scanning, expand BigPharma Connect, and develop more advanced features that connect patients, pharmacists, and caregivers. In the long run, I want BigPharma to become more than just an app. I want it to be a system that pharmacies actually use to help patients access more affordable medications and better manage their health.

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