GUMDROP

Optimizing Convenience and Security of Medical Prescriptions for Low-Income and Rural Areas

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Abstract Third World countries, low-income and rural areas often have less access to pharmacies to obtain life-saving medication. According to Forbes.com, one in eight pharmacies had closed between 2009 and 2015. This disproportionately affected people residing in low-income neighborhoods. Many of these neighborhoods are termed to be “pharmacy deserts. A lack of access to healthcare and prescription drugs put people’s lives in danger and exacerbates inequalities between different income brackets. This inspired us to create a much more accessible model.

Prototype To test the practicality and efficiency of GUMDROP, we developed a prototype consisting of hardware powered by Arduino, and both a frontend (Web and Apple Watch Apps), along with a backend in Firebase. We utilized 3d printed materials to better design our prototype and used cardboard found from left-over snacks as our chassis for GUMDROP.

The full code is available under the attached Github repo link.

Challenges we ran into We ran into challenges with our materials, but given the resources available to us, we believe we made the best use of recycled materials.

What's next for GUMDROP We hope to implement a chatbot, which will connect you to Pharmacists around the globe, and can instantly suggest different types of medications that may be beneficial to you.

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