Page 55 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

either a Whatsapp or voice call. “There
are less than 150,000 doctors for our 210
million population. The common people
sometimes have to take a whole day out
to travel from their village to a city to
consult a doctor. When the Corona crisis
happened, the Prime Minister advised
us to use technology to address the
problems. We wanted to reduce the burden
and risk on our healthcare facilities and
our doctors,” said Special Assistant to
the Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan.
“Keeping this situation in mind, we built
our solution with Whatsapp so Pakistanis
would not have to learn a new app or
website. They can simply message the
Whatsapp number and receive a call from
the doctor,” advisor further. “Our doctors burden,” added Special Assistant to the healthcare professionals of Pakistan as
and healthcare professionals on the Prime Minister on Health. The World Health ‘warriors,’ fighting to protect their fellow
frontlines are doing and have already done Organization launched a similar service citizens from harm. This initiative was
so much. One outcome of the COVID-19 in partnership with WhatsApp. However, completed with generous support from
pandemic is the need to scale up digital Pakistan’s WhatsApp service is unique PTCL, VentureDive, Infobip, Eocean, Code
health solutions. This Telehealth portal in connecting volunteer domestic and for Pakistan, and NTC. Each of the partners
allows those doctors who are at home, or international doctors to citizens in need. provided essential technical support and
overseas Pakistani health professionals, Prime Minister urged the nation’s doctors free services to put the project together in
to come to their support and lessen the to register with the portal. He termed record time.

55 MAY 2020