The next time you fall sick, you won’t even have to make the trek to your nearest clinic and wait in line to see a doctor. Just whip out your medical app and get a virtual consultation.
There’s the one-week-old Doctor Anywhere app, which connects you with legit doctors for a virtual session from the comfort of your couch. For $30, you get a 10-minute consultation, in which your doctor can prescribe medication, refer you to a specialist and even issue you an electronic Medical Certificate (MC).
Then there’s the MyDoc app, which launched two years ago in an attempt to reach out to businesses and insurance companies. Used by about 50,000 people in Singapore, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka, the app offers access to doctors from different medical groups, as well as pharmacists from Guardian, if you want to go straight to the meds. It’s also currently testing out its e-MC feature.
According to Channel NewAsia, the firm behind MyDoc offers health screenings for small and medium-sized enterprises in Singapore as well. The cost of its services is pegged to the individual’s insurance policies, and the app can also help arrange follow-ups with doctors.
Consumers of both apps claim them to be user-friendly and convenient. Dr Winston Ho, medical director of Parkway Shenton, told Channel NewsAsia that virtual consultations work for “simple and straightforward” ailments, such as headaches and diarrhea.
MyDoc co-founder Snehal Patel agreed that having remote access to doctors means more accurate medical information for patients, as opposed to just going online to search for advice.
Jeffrey Fang, the co-founder of Doctor Anywhere, added that he has connected with voluntary welfare organizations to talk about how his app can help the elderly and underprivileged receive better access to healthcare.
But of course, physical consultations won’t be phased out anytime in the near future. Ho explained to Channel NewsAsia that “about 50 per cent of the diagnostic process involves physical examination which is not available via a teleconsult. Physical examination of the patient remains a necessary and critical part of the consultation process.”
Also, if you’re critically ill, going to the clinic or the hospital is obviously a better choice than an online consult. Symptoms like breathlessness, persistent vomiting and acute chest pain would require medical attention.
