WhatsApp template for clinics: medication reminder

A patient forgetting to take their medication can ruin a treatment. A WhatsApp reminder is simple, direct, and much more effective than a call that nobody answers. Here we leave you a template ready to copy, with variables to customize in seconds.

What goes in each variable

• {{1}}: patient's name (e.g., 'María')
• {{2}}: name of the clinic or doctor (e.g., 'Clínica del Sol')
• {{3}}: name of the medication (e.g., 'amoxicillin 500 mg')
• {{4}}: exact time they must take it (e.g., '14:00')

How to load it in WhatsApp Business

1. 1Copy the message and replace the variables with test data (e.g., 'Juan', 'Test Clinic', 'ibuprofen', '10:00').
2. 2In WhatsApp Business, go to Tools > Messages > Create template, choose the 'Utility' category, and paste the text.
3. 3Send it for Meta review. Approval can take up to 48 hours.
4. 4Once approved, use it to send manual reminders or automate sending from your system.
5. 5If you use Wando, you load it once in the panel, and the AI suggests it automatically when a patient asks for information about their medication.

Message variants

With Wando, you don't just have the template: the AI learns from your real responses and suggests it at the right moment, without having to build complicated flows. Try it free for 14 days, no card required.

When to send this message and when NOT to

The medication reminder is useful for chronic treatments, post-operative care, or prescriptions that require precise timing. Send it 30 or 60 minutes before the time indicated in {{4}}, so the patient has time to prepare the dose. If the medication is time-sensitive (insulin, antibiotics), the window narrows: better to send it 15 minutes before.

Don't use it for over-the-counter medications the patient already knows by heart: an unnecessary message is annoying and may lead to being blocked. Also, don't send it if the patient has already confirmed they took the dose, if there's a risk of interaction requiring a call, or if the treatment is so delicate that a reminder isn't enough and human intervention is needed. In those cases, an automatic message can give a false sense of control.

How to respond to the three most likely client responses

When the patient responds, it's not always to say thank you. These are the three most common responses and how to answer them with template messages.

If they reply 'I've already taken it': thank them and close the thread. No further action needed.

• Sample message: 'Perfect, {{1}}! Thanks for confirming. If you have any questions, we're here.'
• If they reply 'What was the dose?': you need to be exact here. Don't improvise: check the medical history or refer to the professional.
• Sample message: 'Good question, {{1}}. I'll send you the instructions from {{2}}: {{3}}. If you still have doubts, I'll connect you with the medical team.'
• If they reply 'I can't take that': don't argue via chat. Trigger an internal alert and have a professional contact them.
• Sample message: 'We understand, {{1}}. Don't stop taking your medication without consulting. Someone from {{2}} will call you within the next few minutes.'

How to tell if the message worked

The reminder has only one metric that matters: that the patient takes the medication on time. You won't know from clicks or reads, but from the response. If the patient confirms with an 'okay' or 'thanks', it worked. If they don't respond, don't assume they took it: the lack of response could mean they didn't see it or ignored it.

To really measure it, you need to track responses. In Wando, the inbox shows you which messages went unanswered, and you can tag those who confirmed. That lets you follow up the next day with those who didn't respond. If a patient doesn't confirm two times in a row, it's a sign that the channel isn't working for them or that there's an issue with the medication. At that point, make a call.

What causes Meta to reject such a template and how to fix it

Meta rejects utility templates when it detects that the message isn't strictly transactional. The most common reasons: including promotions, links to social media, or asking the patient to reply to confirm a sale. They also reject if variables aren't properly marked or if the text sounds vague (e.g., 'reminder for {{3}}' without specifying what it's about).

How to fix it: keep the message short, without adjectives or calls to action. Use variables for data that changes and don't leave them empty in the sample. If Meta requests changes, adjust the text and resubmit. Approval can take up to 48 hours, so have a plan B: a manual message in the meantime.

Formal and informal variants: when to use each

The formal variant ('Estimado/a {{1}}...') is for patients who prefer a distant treatment: older people, delicate treatments, or contexts where the relationship with the clinic is institutional. The informal variant ('¡Hola {{1}}! 👋...') is for young patients, outpatient treatments, or when there is already prior trust.

The rule is simple: use the formal one when you don't know the patient or when the medication is high-risk (opioids, anticoagulants). Use the informal one when the patient has already interacted with the clinic and the treatment is maintenance. If you're unsure, start formal and switch to informal when the patient responds confidently. Meta's approval does not change based on tone, so choose the one that best represents the clinic.