KUALA LUMPUR (May 13): IHH Healthcare Bhd has made virtual consultation available across all its key markets worldwide, including in Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, India and Hong Kong.
In a statement today, IHH said this expansion of the group's services is an integral part of its refreshed strategy to innovate to meet patient needs and is timely amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The integration of telemedicine with existing healthcare services ranging from primary to quaternary care allows patients to receive quality medical care in the comfort and security of their own homes.
"They are now able to enjoy more convenient access to IHH's full suite of services from consultation to doorstep drug delivery, with the option for a seamless transfer to the group's brick and mortar facilities, if necessary," it said.
IHH managing director and chief executive officer Dr Kelvin Loh said while its hospitals, medical centers and clinics have implemented the most stringent infection control measures to protect patients' safety and health, many patients cannot or may choose not to visit these physical facilities in person now.
"Our planned integration of telemedicine into our brick-and-mortar service is therefore coming at timely juncture as our patients can now enjoy peace of mind and access to uninterrupted quality medical care whether from their homes or at our facilities," he said.
In addition, IHH said the rollout of telemedicine is spearheaded at the country level to cater to the varying needs of each market.
IHH patients can book virtual consultations with doctors from the following healthcare facilities for specified specialties and conditions:
- Malaysia: All 15 Pantai and Gleneagles hospitals
- Singapore: Parkway Shenton clinics
- Turkey, Bulgaria, Macedonica and the Netherlands: All 21 Abicadem hospitals
- India: 23 Fortis hospitals, five Gleneagles Global hospitals and Continental Hospital
- Hong Kong: Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong
According to IHH, the group already has seen strong traction for its virtual consultation services. For example, Fortis has conducted more than 12,600 teleconsultations since it launched the service across 23 of its hospitals in India on March 27, and sees an average of more than 370 patients online daily.
"In Turkey alone, more than 1,300 teleconsultations have also been conducted at Acibadem hospitals since its Doctor Online platform went live on March 31, this year," it added.
Earlier this March, IHH invested in regional telehealth platform Doctor Anywhere as a response to shifting patients trend. It had also invested in Lucence Diagnostics, which offers blood-based screening and treatment monitoring solutions for oncology patients.
At 10.25am, IHH shares added 1.55% or 8 sen to RM5.24, for a market capitalisation of RM45.98 billion.