Abstract: A medication dispensing system comprising a programmable on-site medication dispensing unit and a central monitoring facility. The on-site medication dispensing unit holds medication in a plurality of canisters which it selects from according to an entered and stored prescription regimen and then notifies the patient by an audible or other sensory signal. If the patient presses a button within a prescribed time, the unit dispenses the selected canisters. If the patient does not press the button within the prescribed time, or if the unit detects a failure to dispense the selected canister, the unit makes the canister inaccessible and contacts, in order, a predetermined list of caregivers and then a central monitoring facility. An audio message is downloaded from the central monitoring facility to one or more of the on-site dispensing units, and played in accordance with a downloaded play program.