Muscat – A team of students from the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) has developed a smart medication management system aimed at helping elderly people and patients with chronic illnesses take the correct medication on time.

The project – PharmAlarm – is among initiatives incubated under the university’s Scientific Incubator Programme, funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. It addresses difficulties faced by patients who must manage multiple prescriptions, a challenge that can lead to missed or incorrect doses and affect treatment outcomes.

The system was developed by Mohammed Ammaar and Asifur Rahman, mechanical engineering students at GUtech, who said their idea is to reduce errors caused by forgetfulness or incorrect dosing, while easing the burden on family members and caregivers.

PharmAlarm consists of an automated medication dispenser linked to a mobile app. The device is equipped with audio and visual alerts and a simple capsule-loading mechanism, while the app enables users to track dosage schedules and receive reminders.

The system is also designed to integrate with electronic health records, allowing communication between patients, healthcare providers, pharmacies and family members. An option for home delivery of medication has also been incorporated.

The project is currently at an advanced prototype stage, following completion of key performance tests. The team is now working on intellectual property registration, further development of the mobile app and a commercialisation plan. It is also seeking strategic partnerships and financial support ahead of manufacturing and market launch.

The project has received national and international recognition. The team won first place at the 2022 COMEX UniversityX Innovation and Research Competition and reached the semi-finals of the Injaz Oman competition the same year. It has also received several awards in entrepreneurship.