Apply to the Novartis Therapeutic Adherence in Cardiology Challenge

BHH member Novartis’ Therapeutic Adherence in Cardiology Challenge, Seed and Growth categories, aims to encourage the best ideas and projects for digital solutions aimed at therapeutic adherence in cardiology. In the Seed category, the winner will receive a prize of €1,000 and the development of an application to help the healthcare professionals of the organization it represents. In the Growth category, the winning team will receive €1,000 and a business mentoring program, with access to mentors, training and technological tools.

Scientific evidence supporting the project and its contribution to existing solutions will be valued. In the Seed category, no technological development is required, just the presentation of the idea and how it is intended to be developed. In the Growth category it is necessary to present a demonstration of how the project could work.

The challenge covers digital solutions that ensure the therapeutic adherence of the cardiovascular patient, guaranteeing the dispensing-administration circuit of a DH drug (hospital dispensing) in an outpatient setting.

Solutions are sought that:

• Help track the patient in the circuit from dispensing to administration.
• Identify the patient as he/she moves through the healthcare system.
• Help the patient to remember administration, dispensing and prescription renewal.
• To help in the integrated management of the patient by different specialties.
• Develop alert systems to ensure adherence.

Lack of adherence is a serious health problem, especially when it has been demonstrated that, in diseases such as cardiovascular disease, good adherence to drug treatment (greater than 80%) implies a significantly lower rate of MACE (Major Adverse Cardiovascular Event) than in the non-adherent group.

With drugs intended to control risk factors, such as LDL, it has been seen that adherence to them decreases enormously over time. Thus, 21 months after a cardiovascular event, approximately 53% of patients on high-intensity statins discontinued treatment.

Adherence can be compromised when, in addition, there is a parallel circuit of medication collection in the hospital and administration of the drug in a different health center. This process requires patient proactivity to comply with the process (requesting appointments, collecting medication, etc.).

The award for the Growth category consists of business mentoring and the possibility of testing in hospitals of the ITEMAS network or collaborating centers.

The prize for the Seed category is the support of the development of the solution, provided that the team is supported by an organization (an association, a medical society or a hospital).

You have until November 27th to present your candidacy HERE!