Every day, doctors and medical researchers are challenged to find new, improved drugs and courses of treatment for chronic disease. But, what if the answer to improving health outcomes for many patients was simpler than developing new drugs? What if it was as simple as ensuring more patients stick to their treatment regimens?
Medical non-adherence is a massive challenge all over the world. According to the World Health Organization, half of patients in long-term treatment for chronic illnesses such as HIV, cancer and hypertension do not adhere to treatment plans – and rates are even lower in developing countries. While low adherence means individual patients have more difficulty managing disease, it also creates huge costs for healthcare and insurance companies.
