Digital health platforms in the Philippines are expected to remain flourishing as the COVID-19 pandemic continues as evidenced by several apps reporting accelerated numbers of users and utilization.
- AIDE, a mobile app marketplace that connects patients with doctors, reported that daily home medical requests surged by 300% with an average of 200 per day since the onset of the global health crisis.
- Telemedicine pioneer Medgate Philippines saw a 170% jump in the usage of their services, which led to a total patient base of 1.5 million.
- Globe Telecom’s KonsultaMD, a 24/7 health hotline service manned by skilled and licensed Filipino doctors, also boasts of more than 1.5 million paying subscribers.
In July 2021, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MOIC) launched the Philippines’ first fully integrated health and wellness app, called mWell. The app offers online video consultations with licensed doctors from different specializations. In addition, mWell app users can gain valuable health information about a wide range of topics from COVID-19 to chronic disease management, pregnancy issues, online fitness, nutrition, and wellness programs. The app also provides patients with the option to order medicines and healthy products via its e-pharmacy and online shop.
mWell is a high-performance mobile app powered by top names in the healthcare, wellness and tech industries. CareSpan’s Clinic in the Cloud™ integrates digital care tools, capabilities, and data for mWell doctors and patients. It also uses LotusFlare’s cloud-native, agile IT digital enablement platform for a seamless, end-to-end customer experience. Also, Ping An’s healthcare technologies have enabled mWell to address Covid-19 concerns, diagnosis, care, and treatments. Leading Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Medicard, provides access to COVID-19 testing services. For OTC medicines and more, South Star Drug, one of the country’s top health retailers, is mWell’s first e-Pharmacy partner.
(Sources: mWell; Philstar Global)