Virtual health guidance

Published at : New Straits Times
Published on: 18 Apr 2021

PFIZER has entered into a collaboration with DoctorOnCall to launch a digital therapeutics platform that focuses on three key therapeutic areas namely smoking cessation, vaccination, and heart health.

Catering to an increasingly tech-savvy and mobile audience, the digital therapeutics platform is designed to empower Malaysians to take charge of their health, help improve disease management and quality of life while providing guidance and resources to facilitate better communication between patients and their healthcare providers.

The digital therapeutics platform spans across three "health centres" on DoctorOnCall's website that houses resources for the following therapeutic areas in Bahasa Malaysia and English: Health Centre – Smoking Cessation / Pusat Kesihatan – Berhenti Merokok, Health Centre – Vaccination / Pusat Kesihatan – Vaksinasi and Health Centre – Heart Health / Pusat Kesihatan – Kesihatan Jantung.

Over the past year, first-hand accounts from medical practitioners have highlighted the stories of patients whose treatments have been disrupted due to Covid-19 and movement restrictions.

Last year, the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) confirmed that some patients who suffered heart attacks and strokes stayed away from hospitals because of Covid-19.

Digital health platforms like DoctorOnCall provide convenience to patients who need immediate health advice but cannot visit a doctor during this critical time, as it allows the patient to quickly check in with a doctor for guidance virtually.

While Covid-19 has been devastating in its impact on so many areas of healthcare delivery, it has also presented opportunities for us to rethink and reset a new normal, says Pfizer Malaysia and Brunei country manager, Luksanawan Thangpaibool.

"The adoption of digital health and virtual care will play a bigger role in how healthcare is delivered going forward."

Through this partnership with DoctorOnCall, patients and healthcare providers in Malaysia will be provided with resources to stay connected and make informed decisions, both during the pandemic and in the future, she adds.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that the tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever seen, killing more than eight million people a year globally, and the economic costs are substantial – including significant healthcare costs for treating illnesses directly linked to smoking . In Malaysia, it has been a primary cause of death since the 1980s.

In light of this, the smoking cessation health centre on DoctorOnCall's website provides tips on how to quit smoking for good. Through the platform, patients can also calculate how much money they can save if they quit smoking and how quickly their lungs could blacken based on their smoking behaviour.

The pandemic has also shown us how important vaccines are in protecting us from vaccine-preventable diseases.

According to WHO, vaccines have successfully prevented 2 to 3 million deaths from diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, measles, pneumococcal and influenza .

In Malaysia, pneumococcal disease is one of the most widespread vaccine-preventable diseases. Outcomes of pneumococcal diseases are serious and potentially fatal so preventive measures such as vaccination are the best way to prevent the disease.

To help members of the public understand more about vaccines and immunisations, as well as to dispel common misconceptions on this topic, the vaccination health centre on DoctorOnCall's website contains informational articles and videos as well as free doctor consult initiatives. Patients can also learn how much they can save from the possibility of hospitalisation and treatment costs by getting vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.

Cardiovascular disease meanwhile has been the leading cause of death in Malaysian since the early 1980s.

The NCVD-ACS (National Cardiovascular Disease Database – Acute Coronary Syndrome) registry of 2014-2015 shows that Malaysians suffer heart attacks at a younger age compared to those in developed countries.

In a bid to help Malaysians learn more about the anatomy of the heart and disorders and tips on managing heart health, the health centre on DoctorOnCall's website allows patients to check their risk of hypertension with the Hypertension Risk Calculator. Patients can also find out their risk for stroke by taking a self-assessment quiz on the platform.

"In today's digital age where health education is looking towards nurturing long lasting behavioural changes that will result in a better health environment, we have a responsibility to drive innovations that elevate health outcomes in our community. Taking in the shifts in the ever-changing digital space, we are hopeful that this collaboration with Pfizer will trigger a lot of interest in the information shared and eventually a more empowered public," says DoctorOnCall chief operating officer, Chiak Tang.

Read full article here: New Straits Times