Telemedicine - Is It Popular in Your Place?
By M Cheung
@Beestring (13306)
Hong Kong
August 2, 2022 7:33am CST
Hong Kong Government has launched a pilot scheme to provide telemedicine service to people infected with Covid. Patients can book an appointment via an app for a video consultation with a doctor. Prescription medicine can be delivered to the patient's home when necessary. Telemedicine is a convenient option for people who cannot go to the doctor’s office such as older adults or people with disabilities. It may also help to prevent spreading of the disease. However, there are limitations such as unable to conduct physical examination and laboratory tests in a timely manner. Since its launching, telemedicine is not that popular here, probably because older adults do not know how to set up a video consultation and people still prefer face to face consultation with a doctor. Is telemedicine popular in your place? Have you used it before?
8 people like this
10 responses
@RandomUser (30)
• Bhubaneswar, India
2 Aug 22
It can help reduce crowd at hospitals & medicine stores therefore reducing spreading of infection.It is available in India but most people don't use it because of cost & low knowledge about smartphone.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13306)
• Hong Kong
2 Aug 22
It's more expensive to use telemedicine than face-to-face consultation in India?
1 person likes this
@RandomUser (30)
• Bhubaneswar, India
2 Aug 22
@Beestring Cause some private hospitals provide these services and not widely used
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79664)
• United States
2 Aug 22
I've actually used telemedicine recently for my doctor appointment. It's a great alternate to not being able to get to the office for an in person visit.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79664)
• United States
2 Aug 22
@Beestring I love my doctor and have been going to him for years. I trust that I'm okay doing a telemedicine visit if I can't go in person.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13306)
• Hong Kong
2 Aug 22
@Marilynda1225 He knows about your health history very well. In this case, telemedicine is a great alternative to you.
@Beestring (13306)
• Hong Kong
2 Aug 22
It's good that you have a trusted doctor to do telemedicine for you.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86727)
• United States
2 Aug 22
I have not tried it, but I have had telephone calls for apointments not the zoom or video.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86727)
• United States
2 Aug 22
@Beestring yes but it was an easy one
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@Beestring (13306)
• Hong Kong
2 Aug 22
I see. So your doctor did a diagnosis for you over the phone?
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
2 Aug 22
@Beestring I know that it is unpopular here, people want to see a doctor in person.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13306)
• Hong Kong
2 Aug 22
I think the old people here are facing this problem too.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
2 Aug 22
Is it popular? Not really... Are we supposed to use it? Yes... although I told the doctors my phone won't run the app, so they either see me in person or they don't get paid. (My phone is perfectly capable of running the app. I just refuse to pay for a doctor "visit" if the doctor can't do his job because I'm not there.)
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
2 Aug 22
@Beestring That's what I always think, too.
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@Beestring (13306)
• Hong Kong
2 Aug 22
I prefer face-to-face. Not sure if the doctor can do the diagnosis correctly via a video meeting.
1 person likes this
@Greencindere (669)
•
2 Aug 22
It was extremely unpopular when introduced in late 2020 especially by older population. So the project was terminated after two months I believe. People just don’t believe that an accurate diagnosis can be made without the doctor seeing you face to face and I agree.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13306)
• Hong Kong
2 Aug 22
I can see the reason. HK is just launching a pilot scheme. I think it will be terminated.
@Greencindere (669)
•
2 Aug 22
@Beestring Serbia. But I was not living there at the time. Heard it from family and friends.
1 person likes this
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
3 Aug 22
That's a new approach and I think a few of the pharmacies have caught on with the idea but they use cell phones and texting instead. So only previously prescribed meds could be ordered.
Telemedicine would be great as an update in treating covid patients. It prevents the spread of the virus too,
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13306)
• Hong Kong
3 Aug 22
It takes time for the people to have confidence in this new approach.
@averygirl72 (37716)
• Philippines
3 Aug 22
Yes during the early months of the Pandemic hospitals here rely on telemedicine
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48382)
• Canada
3 Aug 22
Its not just covid infected patients who are having telephone appointments here with doctors.
Certain appointments, prescription refills, review of lab work and things like that can be easily done thru a phone appointment. I have only been in my doctor's office once since November 1019, and I have regular appointments every 3 months over the phone.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13306)
• Hong Kong
3 Aug 22
That sounds telemedicine is pretty common in Canada. Some private hospitals here also offer such services. But the government's pilot scheme is targeted at Covid patients.
1 person likes this
@luisga814 (6913)
• Quezon City, Philippines
2 Aug 22
Some my students during High School, whom became doctors right now. Almost half of them enjoys in telemedicine.
1 person likes this
@luisga814 (6913)
• Quezon City, Philippines
2 Aug 22
@Beestring Not yet. I prefer actual medical consultation.
1 person likes this
