Oladoc – Healthcare at Your Fingertips

Providing citizens with prompt and quality healthcare is one of the biggest public policy issues we are facing today. With an average growth rate of 2 percent, Pakistan’s population has risen to 212 million, whereas the development of the healthcare facilities has not been able to match the pace of the population growth. Oladoc – A digital health startup where you can find and book an appointment with the right doctors nearby. It’s health care at your fingertips.

 

Healthcare in Pakistan is wounded by numerous problems, starting with the government’s misplaced priorities and negligence. Regrettably, in its 70 years of history, Pakistan’s both civil and military governments have not made the health sector a priority and we still on an average of 2 % of the GDP on healthcare. When combined with poverty and the lack of reliable infrastructure, the scenario looks dreadful.

However, the biggest problem we face is the absence of a reliable healthcare delivery network. A good healthcare delivery system includes hospitals, dispensaries, qualified doctors, basic health units, and affordable medicine – a complete healthcare value-chain. Unfortunately, this is not the case here as we are short of doctors, hospitals, and the desired number of healthcare units – particularly in rural areas.

For the majority, this dreadful scenario was an insurmountable challenge – but for some young and bright minds, this challenge was an opportunity.

The Launch of the “Digital Doctor”!

As they say, necessity is the mother of invention; this healthcare challenge has led many motivated souls on a mission to transform Pakistan’s healthcare landscape. Since Pakistan has over 162 million cellular service users with 71 million on 3G/4G networks, this massive digital landscape opened up a great opportunity to change the face of healthcare.

the total number of broadband subscribers is 73.4 million. Smartphone has gained a position of fashion symbol with over 40 percent of the population owning one or more devices. These numbers indicate that there are at least 73 million people who could be helped or served through broadband and mobile internet services.

Reading stories from around the world and taking advantage of deepening technology penetration, there are people who’re on a drive to digitize our healthcare system and employ internet and communication technologies for social good. Over the last few years, a lot of healthcare companies have been established or moved into the digital domain.

One such name is oladoc – a digital health startup where you can find and book an appointment with the right doctors nearby. 

Founded as MyDoctor.pk, the startup secured funding worth $1.1 million in 2018 and renamed itself as oladoc. Starting from Lahore as an online doctor appointment booking company, the venture has now expanded operations across major cities like Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad, etc. offering healthcare services to the patients via mobile app, website, and a 12/7 helpline. You can book an appointment with the desired doctors and specialists at the time of your convenience.

A new and improved face of healthcare

With the advent of new start-ups exploring the digitization of health care in Pakistan, the change has already begun. Doctor appointment apps like oladoc have already bridged the gap that the Pakistani patient has to ache through for the minutest of health problems. People at government and private hospitals and clinics have to wait for hours before getting the chance to see the doctor. Moreover, the actual treatment becomes an even more time-consuming process.

With an online appointment, the middle step has already been eliminated. People can now book an appointment beforehand with just one swipe of a finger and can save themselves from the agonizing waiting time that they have to suffer from along with their health misfortune.

Not only this, but appointment apps also give the people a chance to explore a whole database of doctors and then compare them based on fees, experience, and accessibility. This is the trademark of an excellent health care system where patients can freely choose from a lot of equally good options. Such apps have made it possible in a developing country like Pakistan. 

Barriers to Care

While this is very encouraging to learn about these companies and motivated individuals who wish to change the world around them, there is a long journey ahead. Just like with any other system, it will take time to develop an ideal healthcare system. 

There are many barriers to the change, such as low literacy rates, lack of internet accessibility in various areas, absence of mass awareness, and technical illiteracy. Above all, government and local investors in the healthcare-tech need to bring major reforms in the health sector. Nevertheless, the blueprint for change is already here – the digital doctor is here – it is time for mass adoption. 

While youngsters are eagerly adopting the technologies and apps, there is still a large segment of the population that needs awareness about the availability and utility of these tools. If investors and the government pay due attention, the private sector (led by these tech companies) can help Pakistan tackle the healthcare challenges it faces today and build a digital health network that serves to provide prompt health facilities.

How to Take Advantage?

So, if you wish to take advantage of the digital health solution, it is very simple. The next time you are searching for a doctor or the best skin specialist in Karachi (Lahore or Islamabad), all you have to do is visit their website or download the app and get an instant appointment online. oladoc app is available for Android as well as iOS devices and can be downloaded here.