Hong Kong startup iMeddy provides free video consultation for COVID-19 patients

iMeddy, a startup nurtured by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, is providing free video medical consultations via its online healthcare platform for COVID-19 patients.

Supported by Y.Elites Association and the Hong Kong Youth Development Alliance, the service runs in two phases: the first round, which has been completed, delivered teleconsultations to low-income families, and the upcoming second round will cover senior people living alone and those living in nursing homes. 

According to a media release, the telehealth service is meeting a quota of 3,000 COVID-19 patients amid a severe fifth wave of COVID-19 infections in the city. "This will help share the burden currently faced by the medical system as well as promote the use of innovative technology in the medical field," the statement read.

Telenor Pakistan partners with Novo Nordisk for diabetes awareness in rural Pakistan

Cellular and digital services provider Telenor Pakistan has teamed up with Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk to educate farming communities in Pakistan about diabetes.

Through the partnership, users of Khushaal Watan, Telenor's mobile lifestyle app for farmers, will receive text messages and live shows about diabetes and its early signs.

Additionally, Telenor will launch a rural health service called Khushaal Sehat to further its awareness campaign.

Novo Nordisk General Manager Rashed Rafique Butt noted that Pakistan now has the world's third-largest population with diabetes. In the country, millions of patients, especially in rural areas, are deprived of access to adequate health facilities. "This is a call for everyone to join hands and do whatever it takes to curb this unfolding pandemic," Butt said.

According to Telenor, their programme will benefit over 16 million users of Khushaal Watan in agricultural communities.

"We’re committed to bringing benefits and solutions possible through our 4G network to every Pakistani. The collaboration with Novo Nordisk, a first of its kind, is a development towards the same aim, providing accessible digital healthcare solutions and information that contribute towards healthier lifestyles and consequently the economy," said COO Khurrum Ashfaque.

India Health Link opens digital health centre in rural India

Healthcare provider India Health Link has launched an unstaffed digital health centre in the remote district of Khagaria in the state of Bihar. 

The IHL Care Digital Health Centre at Adarsh Nagar features the health kiosk called hPod, a self-service health station that is capable of screening over 20 vital parameters, such as blood pressure, temperature, pulse, blood oxygen saturation, and ECG. It also enables teleconsultation with doctors from Apollo TeleHealth.

Moreover, the health facility allows patients to create their own IHL health accounts, which integrate with the nationwide Ayushman Bharat Health Account.

India is experiencing shortages in its healthcare workforce where the doctor to patient ratio is below the recommended figure set by the World Health Organization, noted IHL CEO and founder Dr Satyender Goel.

He also said that India is "sitting on a time-bomb of [non-communicable diseases] and Indians neither prioritise their preventive care nor they do their initial health screening". Many preventable diseases in rural areas are not detected early on, resulting in an increasing burden of disease, he stressed.

The IHL digital health centre can collect data on risk factors of patients in Khagaria, home to over 1.6 million people, which Dr Goel said the government could use to plan and implement programmes on maternal and child health, women's health, and prevention of NCDs.

"The facility of quick preventive health check-ups for individuals at their convenience will prove to be the boon for preventive healthcare to the people of the rural town," Nilesh Kumar, franchisee of the IHL Care Digital Health Center in Khagaria, also commented.

Shanghai Mental Health Center sets up Bilibili accounts for mental health awareness

Shanghai Mental Health Center, a mental health institution in China, has partnered with youth-oriented online video platform Bilibili for mental health awareness.

SMHC will launch four official accounts on Bilibili to deliver video content around mental health.

As part of the collaboration, the mental health centre will also support Bilibili's Energy Gas Station, an online service that helps users cope with negative emotions, by having its team of psychological intervention volunteers respond to some inquiries. Additionally, SMHC doctors will be available at certain times to provide online support to users under emotional distress.

"We noticed that more and more people are paying attention to the importance of mental health. We are glad to form [this] partnership with Bilibili to support the public on mental health issues, especially the young generation," said Xie Bin, the secretary of SMHC's Party Committee. 

SmarTone, Cigna Hong Kong team up for free teleconsultation offering

Insurance firm Cigna Hong Kong and telecommunications provider SmarTone have partnered to launch a teleconsultation service for families of SmarTone customers.

According to a media release, the six-month free trial service provides SmarTone 5G subscribers with access to Cigna's telehealth service in partnership with Teladoc. It includes video consultations with primary care physicians and general practitioners, as well as body check discounts for comprehensive health screening and outpatient discounts at Cigna's partner clinics in the city. 

Up to four people, including the main subscriber and three dependents below the age of 18, can share the same account to access the telehealth service. Moreover, SmarTone is waiving charges for data usage for local consultations. 

Cigna Hong Kong CEO Jonathan Spiers added that this partnership "enables us to provide health services that are easy to access for SmarTone customers no matter if they are in Hong Kong or abroad, with wide operating hours and unlimited access to online consultations".

"With SmarTone's 5G network, we can offer customers and their families a stable and reliable telehealth service, providing them an easy and convenient way to access medical advice and doctor consultations," SmarTone Deputy CEO Norman Tam also said.