Automated Drug Dispenser for Efficient Hospital Medication Management

Abstract

Medication errors and non-adherence remain critical challenges in modern healthcare systems, especially among elderly patients and individuals with chronic illnesses. Manual methods of medication management often lead to missed doses, incorrect timing, and increased dependency on caregivers. To address these issues, this project proposes an IoT-based Automated Drug Dispenser (ADD) that ensures accurate, timely, and secure medication delivery. The system integrates key technologies such as RFID for patient authentication, a servo/gear motor for automated dispensing, GSM for real-time SMS alerts, and IoT platforms like Blynk for remote monitoring. Each patient is assigned a unique RFID tag, which enables secure identification and personalized medication scheduling. The system verifies the prescribed schedule using a real-time clock and dispenses the correct dosage automatically at the appropriate time. Additionally, the system sends alerts to caregivers in case of missed doses or system errors, ensuring continuous monitoring and timely intervention. The inclusion of a user-friendly LCD interface enhances usability by providing real-time feedback and instructions to the user. The system is designed to be cost-effective, scalable, and suitable for hospitals, elderly care centers, and home healthcare environments. Overall, the proposed solution improves medication adherence, reduces human errors, and minimizes the workload on healthcare professionals, contributing to safer and more efficient patient care.