Pharm-Assist, convenient medication for the masses

Inspiration

A few months ago, my parents were complaining about spending hours at the nearby polyclinic regularly just to collect their usual prescription medication for their chronic illnesses. Thus, we as a team decided to solve this problem, using Pharm-Assist would alleviate queues at the medical institutions, reducing their strain and allowing them to attend to more serious medical emergencies.

What it does

Pharm assist dispenses regular chronic illness medication through the use of a motor and coil, akin to a usual vending machine. However, it uses a personalized RFID card to tailor to their medicine prescription, only dispensing the amount prescribed. It is also easily refillable with a openable side door to add medicines. It also includes a screen to give simple messages to guide the user through the process.

How we built it

We have built Pharm-Assist using an Arduino Uno and a ESP32-S3 Dev module, along with relavant modules such as the RFID and IR Sensors, relay module and motors. We built the housing out of wood and acrylic, using hinges to allow refills of the medicine bay inside.

Challenges we ran into

We ran into challenges with the construction of the housing, where it would not fit with the initial measurements, as well as needed to downsize due to a lack of materials. The motor connections are also quite fragile, making it prone to disconnection.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are quite proud of the use of Arduino and ESP32 modules, and the RFID way to validate and dispense the correct amount of medicine. The overall machine is also incredibly compact, at only 20x30x20cm big, making it easy to fit in any environment.

What we learned

From this, we have learned some arduino coding knowledge, as well as insights into the lives of others, who are disadvantaged by their circumstances.

What's next for Pharm-Assist

We hope to introduce Pharm-Assist to the relevant medical and governmental agencies, while scailing it to fit their needs, hopefully making it the more convenient option of collecting medicines.

Built With

• arduino