Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

MeraDoctor

last updated Sep 27, 2011

Overview

Implementing organization: 
MHealth Ventures India Pvt Ltd
Implementation Partner(s): 
Single Point Partners
Legal Status: 
Private (for-profit)
Year Launched: 
2011
Stage: 
Pilot/startup stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%, 20-60% (lower to lower-middle), 60-90% (middle to upper-middle)

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Other 3rd party (e.g. debt, equity)
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Out-of-pocket payments

Technology

Technology Used: 
Computer › Apps/Software, Computer › Internet, Phones › SMS/MMS (Text Message), Phones › Voice

Scale

Personnel Employed: 
10-49
Number of Clients Served: 
9000 individuals
Number of Facilities Operated/Networked: 
members receive discounts at 600 diagnostic centers
Summary: 

MeraDoctor is a nation-wide doctor helpline and medical discount network that helps families stay healthy, and save time and money.

Program goals/rationale: 

Seeking healthcare for primary issues is an extremely time-consuming, cumbersome and costly process. Everyone from busy urban professionals to rural wage-earners ignores symptoms rather than travel, wait in queues and spend considerable money to treat their symptoms. Yet in many cases these symptoms, if unchecked, lead to complex illnesses that cause much pain and suffering, disrupting our lives and extracting a heavy financial toll. MeraDoctor aims to break this chain of events by empowering every Indian to take control of his or her health with a simple, easy-to-use and affordable service.

Key program components: 

MeraDoctor is built upon several key components to make it the reliable helpline and medical discount network that families can count on:

Reliable Guidance– The MeraDoctor MBBS doctors will explain the medical conditions in simple words so that the patient will know exactly what they are dealing with. The doctor gives reliable advice – from home remedies and simple medicines to prescribing specific lab tests – with the goal of making the patient’s health better. In about 7 of 10 cases, MeraDoctor doctors resolve primary health questions over the phone and the caller does not need to visit a clinic, hospital or lab. MeraDoctor can even help patients for preventative measures, as a first stop for all queries about healthy living and wellness.

Convenient Instant Access – Doctors are available by phone from 8 am to 10 pm (and soon, 24 hours). Calls are quick and convenient, with most calls being answered in a few seconds.

Quality Doctors supported by Internationally Accepted Medical Protocols – All medical staff are trained MBBS doctors supported by internationally accepted phone health protocols to help them deliver the best possible care and advice. MeraDoctor has strict quality standards to ensure that doctors spend as long as it takes to guide a patient and resolve the particular ailment. Clinical performance is monitored for quality on a weekly basis. MeraDoctor never prescribes Schedule H drugs (non-OTC) since certain medicines should only be prescribed after a physical examination.

Discounts at reputable diagnostic centers and labs – MeraDoctor members are now eligible for discounts of as much as 50% at diagnostic centers and labs across India. Through partnerships with top national labs including Thyrocare (www.thyrocare.com) as well as smaller centres in metros (in Mumbai and Pune) our members can even get home pick up of samples for ultimate convenience.

Complete Confidentiality– MeraDoctor maintains patient medical records so that a patient’s history is known the next time they call, and advice can be tailored to the situation. MeraDoctor maintains US HIPAA standards and promises to never share personally identifiable medical information with anyone for any reason.

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