A TEAM of aspiring medical students have been nationally recognised after devising a web-based application that could save the NHS up to £5m a year.

Four Manchester Grammar School (MGS) boys attended the third annual Manchester MedX conference held at CityLabs 1.0 last month, and during one of the sessions came up with an innovative way to overcome the problems of patients not taking their medications, which costs the NHS millions every year.

And so impressive was the boys’ unique idea that a judging panel awarded it the best concept of the day, defeating solutions put forward by practicing doctors, consultants and health care professionals with years of experience of working in the medical industry, making the boys’ achievement even more impressive.

The MGS team was made up of Aizaz Chaudhry, 16, of Altrincham, Anthony Le, 16, of Stockport, Vikram Mitra, 17, of Sale, and Rayyan Nehal, 17, of Stockport.

They attended the conference, which was packed with international speakers, workshops and demonstrations and took part in the MedXSolve competition, which encouraged teams to tackle the issue of medication non-adherence.

Without any prior planning, the boys came up with a web-based app called MedCloud, which would allow patients and GPs access to a platform that would show how often a patient takes their medication, whether they need their medication to be reviewed and whether the patient has taken the medication at all. Patients would supply their own information to a shared server which GPs could access, and if patients fail to upload their information automatic reminders would be sent.

In cases where patients require additional support, families would also have access to the information.

The application could save the NHS up to £5m a year which is wasted on medicines prescribed to patients but not taken.

Aizaz said: “I’m really pleased that the judges singled out our idea as the best and most innovative on the day. The conference was really beneficial and I learned how to work together in a team to come up with a creative solution, then try and grasp the essence of the idea to try and advertise it.”

Vikram said: “Our presentation was detailed and thorough and we really impressed the judges by our unique idea and enthusiasm. It’s made me realise I might want to do more than just work for the NHS in the future and build a career in different aspects of the medical profession.”

Dr Samuel Crawshaw, who helps prepare Sixth Form students intending to study medicine, congratulated the boys, saying: “This is a phenomenal achievement, and I have no doubt it will be hugely impressive to the medical schools these students are applying to next term. We are hugely proud of them all.”