(Logo grabbed from KonsultaMD's Facebook page)
MANILA – Recognizing the rise in the demand for telemedicine, especially amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, telehealth service KonsultaMD announced Wednesday its plan to expand the app's accessibility to the public.
Access to KonsultaMD app can be availed at gas stations, malls, and also bundled with other brands soon, said KonsultaMD chief executive officer Cholo Tagaysay in a virtual presser.
"Don't be surprised if you see KonsultaMD in your next smartwatch," he remarked.
The KonsultaMD app offers 24/7 hotline or consultation with doctors. It is free among Globe postpaid subscribers. Access can also be availed for as low as PHP60. Expanding where the access can be purchased would be for those who do not use digital payments.
KonsultaMD is among the 917Ventures' portfolio, which supports startups.
"Many people have been avoiding hospitals amid the pandemic," said 917Ventures managing director Vince Yamat in the same presser. With this, he noted that many have resorted to teleconsultation.
Consultations made through KonsultaMD have increased by 461 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year, 917Ventures reported. As such, Tagaysay said the platform is hiring doctors every day to keep up with the demand.
Asked for his comment, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña also mentioned the importance of teleconsultation.
"Importante na ngayon ang telekonsulta. Lalo na sa mga pagkakataon tulad ngayon; lalo na sa mga nakatirang malayo sa doktor; sa mga may matagalang sakit na hirap magbyahe ng pasyente (Teleconsultation is important, especially during this time. It is also important, especially for those whose residences are too far from the doctors, and for those who have lingering illnesses, and would be hard to be transported)," de la Peña told the Philippine News Agency.
The DOST, he said, had also launched telehealth projects. Among these include the RxBox biomedical device, which can capture medical signals through built-in medical sensors, store data in an electronic medical record, and transmit health information via internet to a clinical specialist in a hospital for expert advice.
Meanwhile, 917Ventures, as a venture builder, seeks new ideas to launch in order to help improve the lives of the Filipinos.
A great venture builder is someone very patient, very tough and empathetic, said Glenn Estrella, 917Ventures' head of Ideation and Acceleration. (PNA)
