The Daily Mail reports today that trials of a magic bullet medicine – a polypill – are underway in London. It’s a pill that combines medication for raised blood pressure, high cholesterol and to reduce blood clotting. The sceptics said it would never happen because drugs companies wouldn’t make any money. Whether they do or not, it’s happening. Another objection will be that it will turn us all into patients – something I have written about before – but I don’t believe is the case with this. This will be a godsend for people with heart disease or at risk of stroke who struggle to remember which pill to take and when – or simply resent being given so many pills that they rattle. This could transform the chances of people in developing countries of getting the medication that they need. The only caveat is that we prescribe this polypill for those who need it – that the pool of those defined as ‘at risk’ is not an ever widening one – but that goes for all medicines.
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About Julia Manning
Julia is a social pioneer, writer and campaigner. She studied visual science at City University and became a member of the College of Optometrists in 1991, later specialising in visual impairment and diabetes. During her career in optometry, she lectured at City University, was a visiting clinician at the Royal Free Hospital and worked with Primary Care Trusts. She ran a domiciliary practice across south London and was a Director of the UK Institute of Optometry.
Julia formed 20/20Health in 2006. Becoming an expert in digital health solutions, she led on the NHS–USA Veterans’ Health Digital Health Exchange Programme and was co-founder of the Health Tech and You Awards with Axa PPP and the Design Museum. Her research interests are now in harnessing digital to improve personal health, and she is a PhD candidate in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) at UCL. She is also dedicated to creating a sustainable Whole School Wellbeing Community model for schools that builds relationships, discovers assets and develops life skills. She is a member of the Royal Society of Medicine’s Digital Health Council.
Julia has shared 2020health's research widely in the media (BBC News, ITV, Channel 5 News, BBC 1′s The Big Questions & Victoria Derbyshire, BBC Radio 4 Today, PM and Woman's Hour, LBC) and has taken part in debates and contributed to BBC’s Newsnight, Panorama, You and Yours and ITV’s The Week.
The Daily Mail reports today that trials of a magic bullet medicine – a polypill – are underway in London. It’s a pill that combines medication for raised blood pressure, high cholesterol and to reduce blood clotting. The sceptics said it would never happen because drugs companies wouldn’t make any money. Whether they do or not, it’s happening. Another objection will be that it will turn us all into patients – something I have written about before – but I don’t believe is the case with this. This will be a godsend for people with heart disease or at risk of stroke who struggle to remember which pill to take and when – or simply resent being given so many pills that they rattle. This could transform the chances of people in developing countries of getting the medication that they need. The only caveat is that we prescribe this polypill for those who need it – that the pool of those defined as ‘at risk’ is not an ever widening one – but that goes for all medicines.
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