Affordable Medicine Recommendation System

Abstract

The high cost of medications is a major hurdle for many people, especially those in low-income communities, who often can't afford the treatments they need. Although generic medications offer a cheaper option, it’s not always easy for patients to find generics that are both affordable and as effective as their prescribed drugs. This paper introduces the Affordable Medicine Recommendation System, a tool designed to help people find cost-effective alternatives by comparing the chemical compositions of their prescribed medications with available generics. The system uses Cosine Similarity, a method that measures how closely the chemical structures of drugs match, ensuring that the suggested generics have the same therapeutic benefits as the original prescription. Built using Flask (Framework) for the backend and SQL for managing drug data, the system is deployed on a cloud platform, making it accessible and easy to use. By offering users a simple way to compare drug options, the system helps them make informed decisions about which medications will be both effective and affordable. The paper also discusses how well the system works and its potential to improve access to healthcare, particularly in underserved communities. By giving patients, the tools to find cheaper, equally effective alternatives, the system has the potential to reduce healthcare costs and make essential medications more accessible to everyone.