A counter for a pill dispenser 24, the counter comprising: two relatively moveable chassis components 50,52 forming part of a pill dispensement mechanism; a pill delivery or dispensement channel 32 for a pill or tablet 28 to pass through for dispensement; and a counting mechanism 10, the counting mechanism 10 comprising: one or more actuation indicators 11; a ratchet pawl 14 for incrementally advancing a first of the one or more actuation indicators 11; and a drive mechanism 16 for activating the ratchet pawl 14; the ratchet pawl 14 being mounted to a first of the two chassis components 50,52 and the drive mechanism 16 being mounted to the second of the two chassis components 50,52 such that, by moving the two chassis components 50,52 relative to each other, the drive mechanism 16 is moved relative to the ratchet pawl 14 and the pill dispensement mechanism 21 is actuated; characterised in that the drive mechanism 16 is connected to a pill detect feature 18 that can move between a positive dispensement position and a negative dispensement position if the channel 32 is clear, the negative dispensement position being such that at least a part of the pill detect feature 18 is positioned within or blocking the pill delivery or dispensement channel 32, whereby the non-presence of a pill 28 within the channel 32 for dispensement, and therefore a failed dispensement, is confirmed, the movement from that positive dispensement position to the negative dispensement position preventing the drive mechanism 16 from activating the ratchet pawl 14 as the drive mechanism 16 moves relative to the ratchet pawl 14. two relatively moveable chassis components 50,52 forming part of a pill dispensement mechanism; a pill delivery or dispensement channel 32 for a pill or tablet 28 to pass through for dispensement; and a counting mechanism 10, the counting mechanism 10 comprising: one or more actuation indicators 11; a ratchet pawl 14 for incrementally advancing a first of the one or more actuation indicators 11; and a drive mechanism 16 for activating the ratchet pawl 14; one or more actuation indicators 11; a ratchet pawl 14 for incrementally advancing a first of the one or more actuation indicators 11; and a drive mechanism 16 for activating the ratchet pawl 14; the ratchet pawl 14 being mounted to a first of the two chassis components 50,52 and the drive mechanism 16 being mounted to the second of the two chassis components 50,52 such that, by moving the two chassis components 50,52 relative to each other, the drive mechanism 16 is moved relative to the ratchet pawl 14 and the pill dispensement mechanism 21 is actuated; characterised in that the drive mechanism 16 is connected to a pill detect feature 18 that can move between a positive dispensement position and a negative dispensement position if the channel 32 is clear, the negative dispensement position being such that at least a part of the pill detect feature 18 is positioned within or blocking the pill delivery or dispensement channel 32, whereby the non-presence of a pill 28 within the channel 32 for dispensement, and therefore a failed dispensement, is confirmed, the movement from that positive dispensement position to the negative dispensement position preventing the drive mechanism 16 from activating the ratchet pawl 14 as the drive mechanism 16 moves relative to the ratchet pawl 14.