USM PENANG, 26 January 2026 – A pharmaceutical innovation, known as the ‘Smart Automated Methadone Dispenser’ is exhibited at the Pameran Majlis Perutusan Naib Canselor 2026, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), which provides a look into the future of addiction management and prescription medication access.

The innovation is a social innovation developed to support opioid substitution therapy (OST) in rural and B40 areas, and which has been distributed to six clinics in Baling, Kedah.

The dispenser addresses the opioid addiction problem with a solution to the labour-intensive solution currently recognised by the Ministry of Health (MoH), Methadone Maintenance Therapy.

The project was led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Rafidah Zainon alongside Professor Ir. Dr. Mohd Fadzil Ain, Khairul Nizam Jaafar, and Noorfatin Aida Baharul Amin.

Dr. Rafidah shared that the ultimate goal of the dispenser is to make dispensing faster and more accurate.

“The objective of the dispenser is to dispense liquid methadone automatically and precisely, which also saves up to 70% of dispensing time compared to conventional dispensing methods,” shared Dr Rafidah.

The machine is designed to be user-friendly, portable and capable of automated methadone dosage measurement, which simultaneously enhances safety, saves time for healthcare workers and facilitates access to treatment in areas facing manpower shortages.

The project, funded by Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia and the Ministry of Science Technology and Education, aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

All in all, the research and innovation behind this project shows USM’s commitment towards innovation and bridging the gaps within communities.

Text: Sara Hannah Sahan Shah & Etasha Elena Kumar, House of Media (HOMe@MPRC)/ Editor: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/ Photo: Shahnizam Ab Rahim