SINGAPORE — To keep his hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol under control, 84-year-old retiree Heng Peng Nyap pops as many as 15 pills a day.

Organising the twice-daily medication into pill containers and keeping track of the right dosage was a hassle, according to his daughter, Alice, 48.

“Because of his age, his hands are rather unsteady. Sometimes the pills slip through his fingers without his knowledge as we often find his medication scattered on the floor. I’m worried my father could have potentially under-dosed himself,” she said.

However, with National Healthcare Group (NHG) Pharmacy’s new Multi-dose Medication Management (MMM) System, patients suffering from multiple chronic conditions and their caregivers can now easily keep track of their daily medication.

The new system, also known as ConviDose, packs patients’ medicines into individual sachets according to the prescribed dosages and the right time they need to be consumed.

Launched in May last year, the MMM System recently clinched the regional CIO Award given out annually to the top five organisations in Asia who break new ground by using information technology systems to add value to their customers.

Since its launch, the system has been extended to about 3,400 patients in 16 nursing homes and four long-stay wards in the Institute of Mental Health. The system enables the nursing homes to enhance medication safety, free up nurses’ time for direct patient care, save storage space and cut down wastage, said Ms Chan Soo Chung, Executive Director of NHG Pharmacy.

The system is also currently being piloted in NHG Group Polyclinics in Hougang, Jurong and Toa Payoh to assess patients’ needs and feedback. Patients who suffer from chronic diseases, have to take more than four types of medication and have difficulty managing their medication were selected to participate in the trial.

Mr Heng, who visits his polyclinic doctor once in three months, collects 12 weeks of medicine on each visit. Once the pilot ends, he will have to pay S$3.50 a week for the MMM packing service.