Comparison

PDM vs EMDEX Reference

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PDM

This medical reference app provides registered doctors with quick access to clinical information for diagnosing and treating common disorders. It offers evidence-based disease descriptions, drug details, calculators, and news to aid in patient care decisions.

Highlights
  • System-wise disease condition index
  • Evidence-based disease descriptions
  • Drug brand and generic name details
  • Linked headings for quick viewing
  • Clinical laboratory values
  • Medical calculators and charts
  • Doctor's forum for discussion
  • Favorites for bookmarking
Features
Read full description

Practical Diagnosis and Management (PDM) Attention: This app is intended to use by "Registered Doctors" only. Do not install it if you are not a registered doctor. Practical Diagnosis and Management (PDM) is a practical, point-of-care mobile app that offers clinical information on the diagnosis and treatment of most common medical disorders seen in both general practice and hospital settings. Perfect as a quick reference on the hospital wards, in a busy clinic or in a private practice. The clinically-focused entries and the overall topics arranged in a way which make it easy to find answers at the point of care. Doctor can quickly access the information they need to effectively plan and deliver in patient care. The aim is to bring a rational approach to the patients in terms of management, based on the practical guidelines and widely accepted text books of corresponding subjects. Physician can access this resource anytime, anywhere on their smartphone and tablet. The PDM app helps healthcare professionals diagnose and treat the patients confidently. Key Features: 1. Useful system wise disease condition index to help find answers fast 2. Evidence-based disease description of proven therapies compiled by an editorial board 3. View option of different Brands of the generic name and the details of drugs in the treatment section 4. In topics different headings are linked in sections for quick viewing 5. Most commonly used clinical laboratory values and other useful relevant information 6. Essential Medical Calculators and Charts 7. Enhanced table & flow charts for quicker reference 8. Access latest Medical News 9. Doctor’s forum for sharing views on different topics 10. Favorites for bookmarking important entries 11. Feedback portion for user review on how to improve the topics & apps 12. Integrated regular updates that give the most up-to-date information at your fingertips This app is intended for use by general physicians and trainees, with the goal of improving patient care and medical education. This fully-updated reference includes everything Doctor need to know about caring for patients in one handy reference. Each topic has following information: - Introduction - Etiology - Pathophysiology - Clinical features - Investigations - Management - Prognosis - Complications - Prevention - D/D This app is ready to help physicians become familiar with different diseases, learn their Diagnosis & Treatment and make their decision when choosing a medicine. Doctor can quickly access the information they need, to effectively plan and deliver in patient care.

About

EMDEX Reference

This app provides comprehensive drug and therapeutic information for Nigeria, including essential medicines, treatment guidelines, and drug product details. It features an interaction checker, diagnosis and management of prevalent diseases, and a natural health products compendium. Designed for healthcare professionals, it offers enhanced search and detailed drug information.

Highlights
  • Comprehensive drug product database
  • Essential Medicines List
  • Standard Treatment Guideline recommendations
  • Interaction checker
  • Natural health products compendium
  • Diagnosis and management of prevalent diseases
  • Rapid drug news and safety alerts
Features
Read full description

EMDEX (Essential Medicines Index) is Nigeria’s trusted source for drug and therapeutic information published since 1991. Based on both the WHO Model Formulary and Nigeria’s Essential Medicines Lists, EMDEX is unique to Nigeria as it also details over 15000 drug products approved for use in the country. EMDEX App has several unique functionalities, practice resources & tools including: 1. Nigeria's most comprehensive & regularly updated Drug Product Database 2. Nigeria's Essential Medicines List (EML & EMLc) 3. NSTG (Nigeria's Standard Treatment Guideline) Recommendations under the drug details 4. Dental Formulary 5. Therapeutic Notes 6. Compendium of Natural Health Products 7. Diagnosis & Management of Prevalent Diseases in the country 8. Interaction Checker 9. RapidRx – Keep up-to-date with latest drug news, safety alerts & recalls. 10. Indication Index, etc. EMDEX is for healthcare professionals only. Other key features: - Enhanced Search Functionality (Search by Brand, Generic or Indication). - Easy to navigate by Generics, Therapeutic Classes, Indications. - Drugs details featuring Adult & Child Dosages, Renal Dose, Administration, Pharmacovigilance, Advice to Patients, Nursing Action, Drug Use in Pregnancy & Lactation, Drug product descriptions & Pack sizes, etc. - Favourite Drugs (Build your Formulary by Bookmarking your favourite drugs) - Feedback (You can directly post your valuable suggestions, advice & comments) Disclaimers EMDEX Mobile Drug Reference & Therapeutic Notes is to be used only as a reference aid and educational purpose and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is neither intended to be a substitute for the exercise of professional judgment and should not be relied upon solely for final treatment decisions. The clinical information contained in the App is intended as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the knowledge, expertise, skill, and judgment of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, or other healthcare professionals involved in patient care. We used reliable & authentic data sources and company literatures. Although great effort has been made in compiling and checking the information contained in this app to ensure that it is accurate, the publisher, the authors, editors and their servants or agents shall not be responsible or in any way liable for the continued currency of the information or for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this app whether arising from negligence or otherwise howsoever, or for any consequences arising there from. A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INDEPENDENTLY REACHING ANY MEDICAL JUDGMENT, AND FOR ANY RESULTING DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENTS, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY USE OF THE CONTENT BY SUCH MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. BY USE OF THIS APP YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THE INFORMATION ON THIS APP MAY CONTAIN INACCURACIES AND OTHER ERRORS. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

PDM4 screens
EMDEX Reference4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: EMDEX Reference at 4.7 against PDM's 3.9. EMDEX Reference also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 18 months). PDM's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. EMDEX Reference sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. PDM asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

EMDEX Reference holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDM has 28 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of PDM's written reviews are positive against 50% of EMDEX Reference's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDM ships an update every 18 months, EMDEX Reference every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
PDM versus EMDEX Reference: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDMEMDEX Reference
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (28 ratings)4.7 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings28 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 18 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB53 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperITmedicusEMDEX Limited

Customer experience

PDM

All ratings28 ratings
Positive67.9%
Neutral10.7%
Negative21.4%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral33.3%
Negative11.1%

EMDEX Reference

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

PDM

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

EMDEX Reference

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Plan$0.997 Days
  • Querterly Plan$6.993 Months
  • Yearly Plan$24.991 Year

Questions

Is PDM free?
PDM is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is EMDEX Reference free?
EMDEX Reference is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDM or EMDEX Reference?
EMDEX Reference is rated higher. PDM averages 3.9 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while EMDEX Reference averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.
Do PDM or EMDEX Reference have ads?
EMDEX Reference shows ads; PDM does not.
Which is updated more often, PDM or EMDEX Reference?
PDM ships an update every 18 months, and EMDEX Reference every 5 months. Most recently, PDM was updated on September 8, 2026 and EMDEX Reference on September 10, 2026.

Other comparisons