A new strain of Coronavirus also known as Covid19 was identified in China in December 2019. This virus was declared as a global Pandemic by WHO and has reached 185 countries and infecting 267,013 people, resulting in over 11,000 deaths as of date, globally.
Pakistan till date has 645 cases, 4 deaths with the majority of the patients being in Sindh Pakistan. Hand washing, social distancing and isolation have been the most effective of all strategies in flattening the curve of health burden in already overcrowded hospitals and overworked health care staff. An already fractured and fragmented healthcare system in Pakistan is struggling to meet the increasing needs of patients being detected for coronavirus every day.
With most OPD’s shut down, Patients are not only scared but also already being discouraged to go to the hospitals to avoid exposure, elderly are isolated and confined within their home being most at risk, children and pregnant mothers are unable to find doctors in case of emergencies. In this time of national crisis, the technology of telemedicine can play a great role in acting as an enabler to help many patients in need.
Globally telemedicine is being used right now by many doctors to connect to patients who can be treated at home for primary care ailments. In US alone, the White House has not only endorsed telemedicine but also authorised a bill for $500 million for telehealth services according to the New York Times. In Pakistan, a telemedicine company, run by two young and energetic female doctors, Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram and Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga, is trying to help combat this crisis.
Sehat Kahani is a telemedicine platform that connects female doctors to patients in need using telemedicine using their network of E- clinics in low income communities and via their mobile application for corporates and consumers.
Committed to their vision of “democratizing healthcare for all using technology, Sehat Kahani has Partnered with Digital Pakistan led by Tania Aidrus to combat coronavirus using The Sehat Kahani Telemedicine App.This App will connect any patient who is in need of advice, counselling and education on Covid19 to qualified PMDC licensed female doctors 24/7.This service is FREE for users for 3 months so that maximum patients can connect to a female doctor while maintaining social distancing, isolation and quarantine.
Users can download the App, connect to doctors available on the platform via “consultme” or “Book Appointment” option. The patients can select the doctors based on their symptoms or speciality required. Tania Aidrus, CEO Digital Pakistan has appreciated Sehat Kahani’s effort and has called out to more telemedicine providers to join the cause.
