Konsultamd posts surge in consults

Konsultamd, the telehealth service of Globe telecom Inc., recorded a 450-percent surge in consultations in april versus January this year, as more and more Filipinos seek remote medical help due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Glenn Estrella, operating advisor for Konsultamd, said this increase indicates that telehealth is now gaining ground in the country, as Filipinos are becoming more cautious of hospital visits due to risk of virus contraction.

“Telehealth has been in the Philippines for many years but people are usually reluctant to try it because it is not something that they are used to. It is only recently that they are realizing that consultation over the phone or via mobile app is actually convenient, easy, affordable and secure,” he said.

Konsultamd provides patients with remote medical services through licensed Filipino doctors who give advice on primary care, first-aid, health and wellness, nutrition, mental health, and even provide prescriptions and interpretation of lab results through mobile or landline.

Estrella added that based on a white paper from adspark, another Globe unit, online conversations regarding telehealth and online medication consultations reached its peak during the start of the enhanced community quarantine in March and have been steadily talked about since then. the Department of Health endorses the contactless approach to health services, as it helps relieve hospitals of non-critical cases.