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Former Apple and LloydsPharmacy execs launch prescription app following £1.8m seed funding

Echo, the app that helps patients manage their prescriptions, has launched today coinciding with a £1.8m seed funding round led by LocalGlobe.

The startup, which was founded by former Apple exec Dr Sai Lakshmi and former LloydsPharmacy exec Stephen Bourke, is targeted at busy professionals and parents to help them keep on top of their medication and repeat prescriptions through its app.

Users can submit a request for medication through the app which is then fed through to their existing NHS GP for approval; if approved, prescriptions are then sent to Echo’s partner pharmacies where they are then despatched via Royal Mail.

The £1.8m seed investment, led by LocalGlobe with participation from Global Founders Capital, will help support the roll out of the new app, which has also partnered with London GP practice the Hurley Group.

Research carried out by Aurora for the London-based healthtech startup found that more than a third of patients (37%) between 25-34 years admitted to forgetting to request a repeat prescription in time, while a quarter of parents surveyed said they have unintentionally run out of medication.

Lakshmi, who is Echo’s Chief Executive Officer, said that patients not following GP’s advice and arranging emergency appointments after running out of their medication costs the NHS millions of pounds each year.

“This research confirms what we suspected and is why we started Echo,” said Lakshmi. “Half of all under 65s now take a repeat prescription but the pressures of juggling kids and careers means many are not taking their medication properly. This is a huge drain on the NHS.”

To help users with their prescriptions, the startup says that it utilises natural language processing technology to set up automatic reminders from GP instructions, reminding users to take their medication and notifying them when it is about to run out.

Commenting on the inspiration behind the app, Bourke said: “We both take repeat medication so Echo was borne out of our shared frustration with a system that’s confusing and has yet to properly take advantage of mobile technology.

“There are too many barriers to obtaining a repeat prescription, from having to take time off work to attend a GP appointment, to the pharmacy not having enough medication in stock.

“Echo brings the whole process to your smartphone, with delivery to your door. Our goal is to simplify things, maximising medication possession, minimising fuss.”