e-Health Access allocates Rs.48-cr for telemedicine technology focusing on preventive care

Medical care start-up company e-Health Access Pvt. Ltd, which received an angel funding of Rs.120 crore, has allocated 40 per cent of the funding for the development of telemedicine technology and the remaining for marketing and expansion. The telemed network is a web based service via mobile and broadband connectivity. It has identified a panel of doctors and specialists to provide instant medical consultation over the phone where one can get expert advice on any health-related issue through its panel of over 350 specialists and 200 general practitioners. In the last three years, it has managed to garner a customer-base of 35,000. “We have built a virtual telemedicine technology eco-system which connects patients and doctors through email, chat, video and phone call. We are also bringing in a medical kiosk which will be a virtual multi specialty centre wherever it is located. While we believe that every individual should have seamless access to healthcare and thus create a bridge between patient and healthcare practitioner with a major focus not to fall ill. Therefore we are not linking to hospitals but only looking at primary and preventive care to connect to a doctor anywhere in India,” S Jayadeep Reddy, MD and CEO, e-Health Access told Pharmabiz in an email interaction. The Hyderabad-based company through its website provides healthcare services over internet and through phone. One can get opinions from top specialists in various medical specialties like gynaecology, dermatology, gastroenterology, cardiology, psychology among others right through 24/7. With the kind of hectic schedules for India’s working population, now all that is required is a phone to dial a doctor. We are looking to provide fast and affordable healthcare for patients through a large network of physicians across the globe, he added. The cost of service ranges from Rs.99 to Rs.999 where the user who is subscribed for the latter would get a year-long unlimited access for entire family. The future efforts with telemedicine for the company is to be able to work on technology based devices which will enable a low cost and easily accessible solutions for India. Right now these services are for India but plans global reach. Commenting on India’s presence in this area, Reddy stated that there was a need for a good policy framework for telemedicine operations and right regulations in place would only help to bring lot of change in the healthcare eco system. “Telemedicine has proved to be beneficial and cost effective solution for years. To commercialize this, there needs to be considerable efforts from the policy makers as well. However, there is a challenge to bring in doctors to this platform as patients are already interested. Until a few years ago, technology gadget usage by doctors was considerably low unlike today where its adaptation is seen to be more viable which is a clear indication that telemedicine is the way forward,” stated Reddy. Source:Pharmabiz