Digital platform connects patients with doctors


Columbia Asia Hospital Group has embarked on a digital medical service where its patients can get the care they need online, without being on hospital grounds.
Private healthcare company Columbia Asia Hospital Group is taking its services online to offer patients the convenience of seeking medical advice from the comfort and safety of their own home.

Columbia Asia Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Kelvin Tan said the recently introduced digital medical service initiative enabled patients to get medical advice, clinical management, drug prescriptions and the care they needed from a doctor via video call, without being on hospital grounds.

He said the practical service utilises a full digital platform via telehealth provider “DoctorOnCall” that links Columbia Asia’s patients with their doctors.

“In this new norm where physical distancing is a wise practice, the conscious effort to minimise public movement and unnecessary close contact can serve the patient well.

“We believe an enhanced telehealthcare system offers real convenience to our patients while meeting their healthcare needs in this pandemic.

“Some people are worried about visiting hospitals, so a platform such as this will put their anxieties to rest as there will be no more delays in treatment and medicine prescriptions,” he said.

He added that the initiative would be significantly beneficial to the elderly and high-risk patients, especially as the patients’ medication would be delivered right to their doorstep.

Medicine costing more than RM50 would be delivered free of charge within a 20km radius from each Columbia Asia Hospital.

Apart from saving patients’ travel time, the end-to-end digital service also provides continuity of medication without having to be physically present at the hospital, said Tan.

“For those who have had surgeries at a Columbia Asia hospital, follow-up appointments can be carried out via this service.

“A broad scope of medical specialists from our hospitals are on board this telehealth platform.

“It is a much-needed convenience at a time when the community at large is trying to flatten the Covid-19 curve, while knowing there are real healthcare needs of our patients to be served,” added Tan.

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