KMC’s second major hospital to offer ‘online OPD’

The Sindh Health Department has decided to offer 'online OPD' through the platform of the second major hospital run by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), while the facility will also be made available on 'Find My Doctor' app within the next two weeks.

In a letter addressed to Saad Siddiqui, CEO of the firm that owns 'Find My Doctor' app, Municipal Commissioner SM Afzal Zaidi gave him permission to set up an online clinic at Sarfraz Rafique Shaheed Hospital. He also requested Dr. Nadeem Asif, KMC's Senior Director for Medical & Health Services, to provide all possible support for the purpose.

Dr. Asif said that only a few rooms would be required for the telemedicine service, while the hospital's own system would continue to function as usual.

CEO Siddiqui said that 'Find My Doctor' app was developed in 2016 with the aim to provide affordable medical facilities. "We offered our app to the KMC through the hospitals under its administrative control, so that everyone with a smart phone in Karachi could benefit from this facility," he said.

According to KMC officials, medical organizations may set up their own digital units in Sarfaraz Rafiq Shaheed Hospital through which online OPD facility can be provided in the city's accessible areas. After Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Sarfraz Rafiq Shaheed Hospital is the second largest medical facility under the administrative control of KMC. But it has been a victim of official neglect since long.

A plan is also in the works to convert this hospital into a 'data centre' which could help identify disease prevalence in different areas of Karachi and launch awareness campaigns accordingly. "We want to help the government institutions through this data," an official associated with the project told The Express Tribune adding that 186 general physicians are involved in the project.

In the first phase, only general physicians would be included in the project, but if a need is felt, more medical experts will also be added. An extensive advertisement campaign, including on digital media and social media, would be launched to promote the project, while awareness would be created among citizens.

According to CEO Siddiqui, a 15 to 20% discount would be given on medicines ordered at home, while 18 laboratories, including Dr. Essa Lab, NMC, and Hussain Laboratories, have also offered collaboration for the project. Free blood sample collection will be offered to patients which will be sent to a laboratory later. "We have funds to provide free online medical consultation, but if a patient calls a doctor at his/her home for physical examination, he will be charged Rs.1,500," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2022.