Healthcare technology company MCura is transforming outpatient department (OPD) services across India through its innovative digital solutions aimed at improving patient safety, medication adherence, and overall treatment transparency. By digitizing the OPD workflow and focusing on patient awareness around drug regimens and adverse drug reactions (ADRs), MCura is setting new standards in healthcare delivery, informed Madhubala Radhakrishnan, founder and president of MCura.
She further emphasized the company’s mission to streamline hospital operations while ensuring patient safety through comprehensive digital solutions. “Communication between doctors and patients is often limited. Patients frequently leave consultations with little clarity on medication regimens, potential side effects, or when to follow up. At MCura, we are not just a software provider; we offer a complete, end-to-end OPD solution that manages everything from patient workflows and electronic medical records (EMRs) to prescriptions and awareness programmes,” said Radhakrishnan.
A core feature of MCura's system is its focus on creating error-free prescriptions, ensuring that patients fully understand how to take their medications, the associated side effects, and contraindications. By automating these processes, MCura's digital platform alerts both doctors and patients to possible drug interactions and side effects, significantly reducing the risk of medical errors.
MCura’s user-friendly system includes visual aids for patients, ensuring even those who are less literate can easily understand how to use their medications. “Each prescription comes with a picture and clear instructions on how to consume the medication—whether it’s an eye drop, tablet, or injectable. This way, patients, regardless of education level, know exactly how to take their prescribed drugs,” Radhakrishnan explained.
MCura's digital solution also integrates reminder systems for medication adherence. "For example, if a patient needs to take three doses a day for seven days, our system sends reminders to ensure they follow through," Radhakrishnan added.
In addition to patient care, MCura partners with hospitals to fully digitize and manage OPD operations. This includes integrating patient records, managing doctor consultations, prescription routing, and linking to in-house pharmacies, labs, and diagnostics centers. By routing prescriptions directly to hospital pharmacies and labs, MCura ensures that hospitals retain control over their revenue streams, while also reducing patient waiting times.
“Our approach is to take over the complete OPD operations for hospitals. This not only enhances the patient experience by reducing wait times and simplifying treatment procedures but also benefits hospitals by boosting efficiency and revenue,” Radhakrishnan stated. MCura currently operates across India, with prominent clients such as Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where the company is implementing its full suite of digital OPD services.
A critical challenge in India’s healthcare system is the lack of awareness surrounding medication adherence and ADRs. Radhakrishnan noted that many patients are unaware of the importance of following drug regimens or how to recognize potential side effects. "Many people, even the educated ones, are not fully informed about the side effects of the drugs they take. This often leads to non-compliance or adverse health outcomes," she said.
MCura addresses this gap by incorporating ADR reporting into its platform. Patients can quickly report any side effects to their healthcare providers or through the company’s call center, ensuring timely interventions.
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