The Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has drawn global attention to the need to strengthen and maintain agile health care systems.
Most healthcare systems are more familiar with dealing Non- Communicable Diseases (NCD), not the Infectious Disease (ID) such as the COVID-19. The reality of the novel coronavirus is leading to “Epidemiological Transition” a new term in medicine.
In Nigeria it has shown dearth in the supply of essential but much needed affordable and quality healthcare.
With a huge demand for healthcare services from a population of over 200 million people and decreasing number of healthcare workers due to brain drain, there is an urgent need to create innovative solutions to mitigate the shortage in health service supply.
The next phase after the COVID-19 pandemic requires innovative health interventions to address the deficiency in the access and availability of essential, quality yet affordable healthcare in Nigeria. These innovations would seek to bridge the gap between the demand (people in need) for healthcare and the supply (skilled personnel, consumables, and equipment) of health services.
In a space of three months of the Corona Virus Disease, many health facilities have created TRIAGE sorting system which has also forced them to reject an untold number of the sick patients due to the lack of adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and diagnostic kits for COVID-19; thus leading to so much collateral, preventable and avoidable deaths of people in their houses
EKOCORP PLC – owners of EKO Hospitals as a socially responsible publicly quoted private hospital is taking the bold step of augmenting the effort of the government.
The Ekodoc telemedicine initiative has been rolled out in line with keeping with social distancing guidelines; HMO Patients, corporate enrolees, and private patients can access over 50 Medical Experts and super specialists from the comfort of their homes. This means only patients that cannot be handled virtually are invited to the hospital.
This initiative makes it possible for Nigerians to be able to speak with a healthcare worker or specialist as need arises.
Other benefits include reduction of waiting time in the hospital as patients who do not necessarily have to visit the hospital can consult a medical expect either on scheduled appointment or by emergency from the comfort of their homes.
This also reduces the risk to all healthcare workers and patients as the initiative further helps to maintain the Federal Government’s guideline on social distancing during this pandemic as patients can also receive their drugs in the comfort of their homes without visiting the hospital or via hospital drive- through system.
This is the future of Doctor Consulting which is here now. The trouble of commuting for several hours in traffic and associated cost has been removed by this initiative.
While patients who are on HMO Plans, NHIS and Corporate enrolees do not have to pay anything extra to access this initiative, emergency response and consultation are offered to general public at no cost.
According to Kunle Megbuwawon, the chief strategy and business development officer, “no one can predict the time of emergency and at most times it happens in the night when help is difficult to find. At that time it is difficult to talk about money”.
“Access to affordable health care is a fundamental Human right and as such the goal of the Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
The strategist further opined that telemedicine will deliver your medication at the comfort of your home or through the drive-thru pharmacy in your car.
Furthermore, Ademolu Owoyele, chief executive officer, said within two weeks of commencing the Telemedicine Initiative, they have attended to hundreds of clients remotely while some have been mandated to visit the hospital for further management.
“Patients have called us from Dubai and we have clients from the USA who needed care for their elderly ones in Nigeria.”
According to Owoyele, EKODOC Telemedicine & Telepharmacy involves the use of electronic communications and software to provide medical services to patients without an in-person visit to the hospital for such patients that do not necessarily have to come to the hospital.
The CEO said that the Pharmacy Drive-Thru system also allows pick up of drugs through a drive through system without entering the hospital pharmacy within minutes in the comfort of patient’s cars.
“These have been used effectively with good result in other developed countries of the World. Our goal as a trusted health provider is to create access to health care for all Nigerians.
“The range of services covered by the Tele Consultation and Tele Pharmacy includes but not limited to New Consultation, follow- up visits, Management of chronic conditions, Medication and drug management, Specialist consultation, Physiotherapy session, and our Novel EKODOC TELE CANCER CARE as well as a host of other clinical services that can be provided remotely via secure video and audio connections. It’s accessible, affordable, and convenient,” he explained.
