By Jyothsna Manikkath
The pharmacy profession has constantly evolved from a purely medicine-based approach to a patient-based one. Like many other sectors, the pharmaceutical sector has also been witness to disruptive innovations, which may drastically change the way the profession is practiced. Many of these are a result of technological advances and digitalization.
Wearable devices:
With the innumerable devices in the market to monitor everything from the number of steps taken, calories burnt, heart rate, blood pressure, today’s patients generate vast amounts of data on themselves. This can prove invaluable to a healthcare provider to know the exact state of health the person is in, at any given point of time. With the various apps available, all this data is also accessible directly by the healthcare provider, who can then filter out the vital data. Some of these devices are also for exclusive purposes, like monitoring the blood glucose levels, which make the management of conditions like diabetes, much better. Moreover, applications to monitor not just general health, but also medication adherence and are available for use on mobile phones. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly making use of these technologies to track medication adherence. Gaming is another way that companies find to make patients adhere to their medication regimen, in a fun and engaging way.
3D printing:
The way medicines are going to be manufactured, may come across a drastic revolution in the not-so-far future, with the advent of 3D printing. Aprecia Pharmaceuticals was the first to get their 3D printed tablet, approved by the USFDA in the year 2015. This technology holds great potential for personalized medicine and the way clinical trials are conducted. Dosage forms with desired release properties, modified dissolution characteristics and high-dose are conceivable with this technology.
Access to technology:
In this age of information technology, most patients find themselves equipped to access knowledge from the internet. Vast amount of data is available at the tips of people’s fingers. This makes patient empowered to access the healthcare services from any part of the globe. Information related to use of medication or any other health-related queries, patients now have easy access to this technology, which was inconceivable till a few decades ago!
Genome sequencing and personalized medicine:
While genome sequencing has been around for some time now, the technologies used in this, have been undergone drastic innovations. As a result, patients can now access these services at much lower costs. This paves the way for personalized medicine, which are best suited for an individual’s genetic makeup and metabolic needs. This technology has proven to be yet another game-changer and may drastically alter the way diseases are managed.
The world over, technology is taking rapid strides. The profession of pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sector are imbibing many of these technologies, which can drastically alter the meaning of healthcare. Embracing these technologies and unlocking their full potential may prove to be the game changers in making good health accessible by all people at all times.
The Author is Assistant Professor at Department of Pharmaceutics
Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences in India
