Telehealth Becomes an Essential Service During the Pandemic
One month into the Philippines' enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or lockdown in Luzon in April, the Department of Health (DoH) launched a 24-hour telemedicine hotline for residents of Metro Manila. It offers free consultation services for COVID-19 medical advice and non-COVID-19 health-related concerns.
Recently, KonsultaMD reported a 450% increase in online consultations in May compared to January.
Movement restrictions imposed by governments to curb the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 led people to utilize all possible digital platforms for organizations to operate. While medical frontliners in hospitals tend to COVID-19 patients, private medical professionals resort to telehealth or e-health to still keep in touch with their patients.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines telemedicine as "the delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies..."
In 2010, the WHO released a report on telemedicine noting that this was available only in industrialized regions. But advancements in technology and improvements in connectivity now allow health professionals to maximize the platform and widen their reach.
Following the move of DOH, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) issued the "Telemedicine: Guidelines for Physicians in the Philippines." The guidelines require medical professionals to have "proficiency in digital communication skills, clinical acumen and knowledge of technology and equipment to be used, while adhering to ethical practice."
Likewise, the National Privacy Commission together with DOH issued a Memorandum Circular that will ensure the data privacy of patients.
When people speak of health, mental health is also included. An online platform was recently launched which deals directly with people who need counseling or are struggling not only with the effects of the pandemic but also of other mental health issues pre-COVID-19.
These efforts recognize the fact that even if faced with a gargantuan enemy like COVID-19, people still need their physicians and there are those who still need their doctors. Telemedicine is not only about doctors becoming digital-savvy but also about keeping the connections with patients going.
Lockdowns or quarantine has caused various types of physical ailments — because of lack of physical activities — and mental issues — because of the different levels of stress caused by being cooped up in one location and the deprivation of seeing families and loved ones.
Utilizing technology, properly and moderately, can bring many benefits. With medical professionals getting on board the telemedicine platform, it is hoped that more people would find it easy to consult doctors and keep their health a priority, even amid the chaos of pandemic.