Konsulta MD 24/7 Health Hotline: Bringing Medical Information Closer to the People
… The reality of life is that whether you are so careful or not with your health, there will be times, human as we are, we do get sick and need to consult a doctor. As a parent, as a person there will be times when in the middle of the night you feel the need to consult a doctor without wanting to rush to the hospital’s emergency room (ER). Considering there are also people I know who as patients in reality, do fear going to the ER and are also in reality stubborn in seeing the doctor. But our family love us and want peace of mind by knowing what’s wrong with their loved ones, or may it be for parents like me with our child during the time of the day when the pedia or doctor is beyond clinic hours already… unless of course if you have a personal doctor who you can contact at any time of the day for any medical consultation.
Also, if you consider how much time it takes in waiting for the doctor to show up at the clinic during the day after they do their rounds first to their patients in the hospitals. Or that time spent in the ER can take longer as the purpose of triage in the emergency department (ED) is to prioritize incoming patients and to identify those who cannot wait to be seen. Sometimes in the ER when they see you doing fine and better, what happens is it takes you longer time waiting as they attend to other patients who need more medical attention than you. Many of us don’t like waiting for what seems like forever at times at the ER as we have experienced before.
Before when my little guy was younger, there would be times when I felt the need to consult his pedia when he suddenly gets sick after clinic hours and I have no hold of the pedia’s mobile number except when we go to the hospital’s ER and they would contact our pedia in case he really needs to be contacted. But then rushing to the ER late at night sometimes ends up with just being prescribed with a medicine previously prescribed by the pedia or perhaps an over the counter medicine. We also know how much it costs to rush to the ER. It is twice more expensive than the cost of a regular pedia consultation fee only excluding the cost of medicines and use of facilities in the ER.
Recently I had the need to consult a particular doctor that is accredited with my hubby’s company. We changed plans for the day which was our own weekend, and traveled to the medical tower where the doctor’s clinic is located only to find out that they have no clinic for the next two days. Then we came back two days later early at the clinic, and after waiting for an hour for the clinic to open and for the secretary to arrive, was just told that the doctor is still out of the country on vacation and will be back after another seven days yet! My pain and concern can’t wait that long. I don’t want to go back to the ER. I have been to the ER before and we know they will still refer me to consult our own doctor/specialist in the end. Consider in reality the time used up to travel to the clinic or hospital and wait for a doctor when there are so many patients often on the list before your turn plus the cost of consultation fee that is almost worth a whole day’s basic salary today or for others even more. Only then to be prescribed by a medicine that you have been given before, or maybe not. Hence, that can be one reason why many people tend to just self medicate thinking they already know what the doctor will prescribe anyway for such illness or condition. But then don’t try to be your own doctor, it is still best to consult a licensed doctor.
These days, when things can be done and availed online or through one simple call, you can consult a licensed doctor through your Globe mobile phone or landline. When you apply for a Globe postpaid plan, you will be introduced to Konsulta MD and get a free one month subscription. That is how we first heard of this medical service hotline. We will get to try it when I need to given their three-month KonsultaMD subscription to avail of this service.
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Now let’s try and get to know better this health service hotline.
Konsulta MD 24/7 Health Hotline is bringing medical information closer to the people.
“With this, you will have 24/7 access to our health hotline service manned by licensed Filipino doctors who can provide medical assessment and information, including basic healthcare and permissible medication over the phone. A special calling rate of P1/minute applies for this service if you use your Globe mobile phone when you call within the Philippines. Calls nationwide with a Globe landline are free. Please note that cross network charges from a non-Globe mobile phone and NDD charges from a non-Globe landline may apply”, according to a letter by Dra. Gia Sison, Chief Medical Officer of from Global TeleHealth Inc. (Konsulta MD).
Mr. Vinchi Sy-Quia, Marketing Director of Global TeleHealth Inc., personally visited Davao City last April 04, 2016 and talked about the benefits of KonsultaMD.
Know more about this service from this press release below:
Self-medication is a common practice in the Philippines where a large percentage of the population relies on folk medicines, unfounded advice from family and friends, traditional cures, or even the internet instead of going to a doctor or medical practitioner.
This behavior is a result of lack of experienced healthcare professionals in the country in addition to under-resourced public hospitals, poor health infrastructure, limited accessibility, and high cost of medical consultation. Currently, the Philippines only has about three doctors for every 100,000 patients in rural areas and seven doctors for every 100,000 patients in urban areas.
Thus, KonsultaMD was created to bring positive change to the Philippine healthcare industry with its 24/7 health hotline designed to make medical information more accessible, efficient, and affordable to majority of Filipinos. KonsultaMD is being operated by Global Telehealth, Inc., an affiliate of leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom and Salud Interactiva, a leader in the health hotline space in Mexico.
KonsultaMD addresses two of nine areas in the healthcare spectrum identified by a global consultancy and research firm as having the biggest potential for disruption and transformation care anytime, anywhere and cost of care/operation innovations.
With KonsultaMD, Filipinos from all walks of life especially those at the base of the pyramid, will have access to a reliable source of medical information anytime they want and wherever they are in the country without spending a lot of time and money.
“We are addressing the pain points in Philippine health care by pulling together a team of skilled and licensed Filipino doctors who are readily available to provide medical assessment, basic healthcare and permissible medication over the phone. Not only do we feel that the local market is ready for this kind of service, we feel there is a great need for it considering the low doctor to patients ratio in the country,” said Maridol Ylanan, CEO of Global Telehealth, Inc.
KonsultaMD provides straightforward help with health and medical-related questions. This includes medical information to common but important questions on pregnancy, infant and/or toddler care, fever and other general ailments, signs and symptoms, diet, and other concerns.
However, KonsultaMD does not replace face-to-face interaction between doctors and patients but only serves as a means of interim care so that the public can have immediate and affordable medical attention.
KonsultaMD is available to Globe and TM customers at affordable subscription plans.
Globe Postpaid customers only need to pay a subscription fee of Php150 per month which can be used by up to four additional household members.
Globe Prepaid and TM customers may subscribe for Php15 a week, Php60 a month, Php120 every 2 months or Php180 a quarter.
Subscription fee is waived for Platinum Elite members.
Calls using Globe or TM are charged Php1 per minute while calls within Metro Manila via landline are currently free. Non-Globe users have to pay the standard NDD rate for calls outside Metro Manila or regular mobile to landline rate, whichever is applicable.
All Globe consumer postpaid, prepaid and TM customers may subscribe by signing up at www.konsulta.md, by calling (02) 79880 or by visiting a Globe Store. Platinum Elite members may subscribe via their Platinum Relationship Manager. Non-Globe users may visit a Globe Store.
You may also visit their website at https://www.konsulta.md to know more.
Also visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/konsultamd for updates.
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