Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Daktari 1525 Program

last updated Sep 3, 2012

Overview

Implementing organization: 
Call-a Doc
Implementation Partner(s): 
Safaricom and Call-a-Doc Ltd
Legal Status: 
Private (for-profit)
Year Launched: 
2012
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%, All income levels

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Out-of-pocket payments
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Membership/subscription fees, Out-of-pocket payments
Funders: 
None

Technology

Technology Used: 
Phones › SMS/MMS (Text Message), Phones › Voice
Technology Purpose: 
Facilitating Patient Communications
Technology Partner(s): 
Safaricom

Scale

Number of Clients Served: 
2,500 Calls Daily (As of Apr. 2012)
Summary: 

This is a teletriage service that enables customers to get information on various medical issues though the phone. The service also allows customers to reach medical services quickly and to talk to a qualified medical practitioner through the phone.

Key program components: 

Daktari 1525 is a new medical advisory service brought by Safaricom and Call-a-Doc where one can have access to medical advice from doctors by dialing 1525. This service is aimed to provide quick and easy access to medical information and advice and to allow callers to speak to one of 50 qualified, registered medical doctor, thereby supporting the health sector’s goal of improving doctor to patient ratios and improving ease of access to qualified medical professionals

The service gives advice to callers on an appropriate level of care but does not offer diagnosis or prescriptions over the phone. For serious cases, callers are advised to visit a doctor for proper diagnosis and medication. The objective is to educate callers and offer a certain degree of assurance and comfort before further medical attention is sought. The service will provide callers with information on; first aid, common medical problems, health conditions, proper use of medication, counseling, home remedies and natural cures.

Clients will access this service by dialing 1525 from a Safaricom line. The service is available 24 hours daily. Calls will cost KES 20 per minute. The first 30 seconds are free when the introductory voice recording is playing. Subscribers talk to qualified medical personnel registered with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board. For cases that require a visit to a health professional or facility appropriate referral will be made. The service will strictly observe patient-doctor confidentiality and any patient information disclosed during the call will be kept confidential. Calls will be recorded for Quality of Service purposes. Call-a-Doc will be entrusted with keeping the patient’s information strictly confidential.

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