Mumbai, India (CU)_ Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., an innovation-driven multinational pharmaceutical company, has launched an online patient education portal in India known as ‘Hello Skin’ in partnership with the IADVL (Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists) to assist patients with Dermatophytosis or Ringworm or Tinea to adhere to the prescribed treatment duration.
‘Hello Skin’ is the first Whatsapp-based chatbot that assists patients in boosting adherence to topical/systemic prescribed medication with regular pill reminders and also assists in raising awareness of the disease and providing skincare recommendations to patients with Ringworm. This user-friendly portal will be offered in six distinct regional languages, including Hindi and English, to improve patient compliance with the technology.
Alok Malik, Group Vice President and Head, India Formulations, for Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., commented on this breakthrough. He said, “Digital patient inclusion for better disease management is the way forward in healthcare. ‘Hello Skin’ is an initiative in this direction and will help improve disease education and patient adherence to fungal therapy. IADVL’s collaboration with Glenmark for developing this innovative solution, further adds to its credibility amongst dermatologists and patients.”
Dr. Rashmi Sarkar, President of IADVL, expressed optimism over the novel initiative. She said, “Fostering treatment adherence is a priority objective especially in management of fungal infections. ‘Hello Skin’ will be one such digital initiative to partner patients in their treatment journey to improve clinical outcomes in patients suffering from fungal infections.” The frequency of Dermatophytosis, which is commonly known as Ringworm, in India has recently touched 78.4 percent. In addition, the disease has remained one of the toughest infections to cure in recent years, with patients expressing feelings of despair and isolation as a result of the associated social stigma.
Dr Lalit Gupta, Chairperson at IADVL Academy, expressed hopes over the program. He said, “Creating awareness about Dermatophytosis, often referred to as Ringworm, is critical since this fungal infection can spread easily from one person to another, and it is easy for the patients to fall into a state of despair. It requires patients to adhere to the recommended therapy in a timely manner, for successful treatment. I think this chatbot is a new way to help patients in times where digitalization has become an integral part of our lives.”
Dermatologists are confused by the recurring nature of the condition. Despite the wide availability of several oral and topical therapy options, dermatologists emphasize that patients’ commitment to medication and avoidance of steroid usage are crucial to the successful treatment. However, apart from these cautions, patients cease treatment more frequently following alleviation of itching. Glenmark has launched this platform to dermatologists throughout the nation, who are now able to suggest it to their patients for Ringworm treatment. The ‘Hello Skin’ chatbot will encourage patient adherence throughout the course of the indicated therapy.
A fungal infection is a highly infectious skin or scalp illness characterized by ring-shaped rashes on the body or face. It is transmitted by direct contact with diseased skin or spores of the fungus. The spores are capable of surviving on clothes, including dress, sofa cushions, beds, and other porous surfaces. Additionally, they flourish in moist areas, such as public showers and locker rooms.
