MyDoctor.lk and Dialog partner to expand digital healthcare services

From left: MyDoctor.lk Founder Dr. Harsha Jayakody, MyDoctor.lk CEO Sameera Wijerathna, IdeaMart Head of MIFE Business and IOT Viranga Seneviratne, Ideamart Senior Manager Roshanth Gardiarachchi, and Ideabiz Services Senior Business Lead Sumudu Perera

One of Sri Lanka’s leading digital healthcare tech platforms, MyDoctor.lk, together with IdeaMart, powered by Dialog, announced the advancement of its pioneering ‘Doctor Call’ service, paving the way to offer Sri Lankans the opportunity to connect with doctors, 24/7 from the comfort of their own home, workplace or when on the move. 

World Health Organization statistics reveal that the current globally accepted doctor to patient ratio is 1/1000 while in Sri Lanka it is at 1/1800. Through the introduction of ‘Doctor Call’, MyDoctor.lk will enable equal access to an imperative service during a medical emergency when looking for a second opinion or when your families’ health matters most, MyDoctor.lk Founder Dr. Harsha Jayakody said. 

He added, “The aim of such partnerships and expansions are to introduce pre-emptive health and wellness management solutions providing Sri Lankans living in metro and rural areas an effective, efficient doctor or medical assistance service, 24/7.” 

‘Doctor Call’ by MyDoctor.lk transforms the delivery in patient engagement and education, providing a tailored delivery of health and medical advisory services through the combination of audio and imagery to create a personalised relationship between medical professionals and patients, virtually.  

The technology infrastructure supporting the MyDoctor.lk platform enables the team of experts to consistently educate patients about personal care and safety, by simply using a mobile during a medical emergency. Dialog mobile users can type MD and send an SMS to 2407 in order to gain instant access to this service. Prepaid users are charged Rs. 2 + taxes per/day while postpaid users only Rs. 60 for the entire month.

MyDoctor.lk is one of the first startups to be funded under the Dialog Axiata Digital Innovation Fund. It was the first runner up at the Commonwealth Digital Health Awards in 2017 and brings together visionary medical thinking and cutting edge digital technologies to introduce an integrated suite of medical and wellness services. 

“It is a great opportunity for Dialog to support and assist such ventures to scale-up, while offering innovative, convenient and affordable solutions,” said Viranga Senevirathna, Head of MIFE Business and IOT, IdeaMart. 

“As part of its service expansion, MyDoctor.lk together with Union Chemists Rajagiriya has created an opportunity for patients to securely share any prescriptions with the pharmacy using our application, and select the option to pick-up on their way. We have also tied up with Healthnetbuy offering MyDoctor.lk clients the convenience of medicine delivery straight to their door-step, adding ease to their busy lifestyles,” MyDoctor.lk CEO Sameera Wijerathna said. 

He also commented, “Through this service we aim to ensure that geographical barriers are no longer an obstacle when gaining access to good quality medical and healthcare services and advise. With plans of further expansion and solid technological infrastructure we hope to ensure access to quality health and medical services to all Sri Lankans alike.” 

The convergence of IT with healthcare has enabled customers direct access to personal/family health records for better own/family health-management. The aim of healthcare information systems are to help patients manage their own care better. It provides any health or medical oriented business the opportunity for a personal approach that could improve retention, reduce re-admissions and foster long-term positive health results by assisting with constructive behavioural changes amongst customers.