Philippine Medical Association opens online clinic amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) launched an online medical consultation platform called docph.org to aid patients who could not visit their doctors amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

PMA Vice President Benito Atienza said at least 100 members of the PMA have joined the initiative, and they are looking to have more doctors on board.

“The patients can visit the website, and click the button for consultations. There will be 12 questions to be asked on medical history, at madali lang naman po ito sagutan,” Atienza said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV on Wednesday.

“Mayroon rin pong video on COVID-19 [for the patients’ guidance],” Atienza added.

Likewise, Atienza assured that the information on the patient and the doctor will remain confidential on the online platform.

Atienza then said that the patient will be contacted thru DOCPH's Facebook Messenger account, or via telephone if the patient does not have a Facebook Messenger account. 

Patients may seek consultation online on http://docph.org/ from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Questions, however, can still be sent beyond 9 p.m. but the answers will be provided when the online clinic opens the next day. 

“Puwede ho kami magbigay ng reseta through Messenger, at tinatanggap naman po iyon sa mga botika. Katulad ko po, pediatrician, minsan po ang bata may rashes, may kaunting ubo o sipon na hindi naman na kailangan dalhin sa ospital,” Atienza said.

“Also, makakapagpayo na rin po kami kung may nararamdaman nga ang pasyente. Kung halimbawa po kailangan ng obstetrician, maire-refer po namin sila sa ospital kung saan sila malapit nakatira,,” Atienza added.

Atienza then called on his PMA colleagues to come on board.

“One hundred plus pa lang po kami. Ang target po namin 1,000 doctors, kaya nananawagan po kami sa aming mga kasamahan na sumali. Protected naman po ang privacy nila rito, kasi meron pong sariling account ang docph.org for the consultation,” Atienza added. —Llanesca T. Panti/KG, GMA News