Automated Drug Dispensing System with Integrated QR Coded Prescription and IVRS

Abstract

It is challenging even today to get proper healthcare facilities like availability of medicine in the rural as well as underserved areas like hilly and etc . To help bridge this gap, we’ve developed a Automated medicine dispensing system that brings a new level of automation, accuracy, and ease of use to medication management. The medicine Dispenser dispenses the medicine based on the QR Coded prescription generated by the hospitals or medicine practitioners it helps to reduce the human errors in understanding the manual prescription and also the QR Coded prescription is unique and helps the patient details to be encrypted . The main part of the Medicine Dispenser is a mobile app built using Flutter and Dart, allowing users to either scan QR-coded prescriptions or manually choose the medicines they need. The app is easy to use and talks directly to an Arduino-based control unit through Bluetooth. This unit controls the relays and motors that handle the actual medicine dispensing. To make the system even more user-friendly, Dispenser consists an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) using a DFPlayer Mini module, which guides users step-by-step in either Telugu or English to get Medication based on the problem they are facing like fever, cough, cold and etc. We’ve also added a DHT11 sensor to monitor temperature and humidity, which helps keep the medicines in good condition. When the sensor detects conditions outside the ideal range, a cooling fan automatically kicks in to protect the medicine .The Dispensers setup is scalable, and built to be deployed anywhere from village health centers to urban clinics. With features like voice based medication selection, QR based dispensing , and environmental monitoring, this system makes smart healthcare delivery not just possible, but practical and effective.

Introduction

Traditional medicine dispensing relies heavily on human involvement, which can cause errors, delays, and accessibility challenges—especially for rural, elderly, or disabled patients. Issues include incorrect dosages, expired drugs, and difficulty visiting pharmacies. Healthcare providers face high workloads that increase mistakes.

Automating medicine dispensing improves accuracy, reduces errors, shortens wait times, and provides 24/7 access. Features like QR code prescriptions and voice command (IVRS) help elderly and disabled users retrieve medicines easily. Environmental sensors maintain ideal storage conditions, preserving medication effectiveness. The system suits hospitals, pharmacies, remote centers, disaster relief, elder care, and even military bases, enhancing healthcare delivery broadly.

Key Advantages:

• Accurate dispensing via QR code scanning

• Voice command support for accessibility

• Continuous availability around the clock

• Environmental monitoring for medication quality

• Unit-dose packaging reduces overdosing or missed doses

Literature Review Highlights:

• High-speed liquid dose packaging machines improve efficiency in hospital pharmacies.

• Raspberry Pi-based dispensers with facial recognition authenticate patients and track low stock.

• QR code-enabled dispensers increase transparency and reduce wait times.

• IoT systems with real-time monitoring and alerts improve medication compliance and detect misuse early.

Methodology and System Design:

The proposed dispenser integrates hardware and software with two user interfaces:

• QR code-based mobile app for tech-savvy users

• IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) with voice prompts for those unfamiliar with apps

System Architecture:

• Arduino Mega microcontroller coordinates components.

• IVRS module provides multilingual voice guidance and accepts input via push buttons.

• Environmental sensors (temperature, humidity) monitor storage conditions.

• Bluetooth module connects user interface to the dispenser.

• Relay module controls motors that dispense medicines.

• Mobile app generates QR codes for prescriptions.

Main Components:

• Arduino Mega: Central control unit managing inputs, outputs, and communication.

• MP3-TF-16P Module: Plays voice instructions for IVRS.

• 8-Channel Relay Module: Activates medicine dispensing motors based on input.

• DC Motors: Drive the mechanical dispensing.

• Push Buttons: Allow manual control and language selection.

• Speaker: Delivers clear audio prompts.

This integrated design aims to make medicine dispensing efficient, accurate, accessible, and secure for diverse user groups.

Conclusion

The Automatic Medicine Dispenser with QR Code Integration and IVRS presents an innovative solution to modernize medication management and dispensing. By leveraging QR codes, Interactive Voice Response Systems (IVRS), and real-time environmental monitoring, the system effectively addresses challenges such as long pharmacy queues, medication errors, and accessibility issues for elderly and visually impaired patients. Its modular and scalable design makes it adaptable for various healthcare settings, including hospitals, pharmacies, and home care environments. Future advancements could incorporate AI-powered prescription verification, cloud-based real-time monitoring, and multilingual support, further improving medication safety, dispensing accuracy, and accessibility. These enhancements would minimize manual intervention, optimize healthcare workflows, and extend the system\'s impact to both urban and rural populations, ultimately revolutionizing automated healthcare delivery.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Adari Satya Srinivasa Rao, Puthika Ashok, Sure Manideep Naga Sai, Attada Santosh Kumar, Bandi Bharath, Jami Venkata Mani Krishna, Kasireddi Venkata Meghana. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.