Article
Medical experts have turned to hi-tech services to help control the tuberculosis epidemic surging in the Western Cape, which has the highest incidence of TB in the world. One company now markets special pill bottles with built-in radio modules to remind patients to take their TB medication daily. If the patient fails to open the bottle, the company sends a reminder via SMS. If the message is ignored, a caregiver is notified. The product called SIMpill reflects a major concern about the high number of TB sufferers who either refuse or forget to take their prescription drugs. About 2,000 people use the SIMpill bottle, usually financed by the provincial government.