Chronicle Editor
AS the country continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic by imposing restrictions on movements to cut the number of infections, Maisha Medik — Maisha Health’s mobile application (app) — is playing its part in ensuring healthcare services remain accessible and affordable to Zimbabweans.
The pandemic has made it difficult for patients to visit hospitals, in part due to the lockdowns and partly in fear of contracting the deadly and highly contagious respiratory disease.
As its contribution to strengthening public health and mitigating the crisis, Maisha Health is leveraging technology to offer convenient access to medical care for patients. Through technology, it is empowering patients to make doctors’ appointments and conduct video consultations from the comfort of their homes using their mobile phones.
“We understand the challenges involved in getting help when you need it. We built our mobile platform with the patient at the centre of everything. Our aim is to make the process of seeking medical care and treatment as easy and safe as possible,” Maisha said.
The Maisha Medik mobile app, which is available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, is a one-stop-shop for medical support by granting patients access to an extensive network of doctors, dentists, pharmacists, laboratories, clinics, hospitals and other health service providers in Zimbabwe.
The app is also a hub of medical care resources, where patients can get reminders for appointments via SMS and have their medication, laboratory and imaging results organised and consolidated in one place.
Maisha said the integrated functionality of the app allows patients to search for doctors according to specialisation, name or simple search for nearby doctors, schedule the appointment and have it accepted by the doctor that they requested.
By clicking the pharmacy icon on the app, patients can view their medication. They can also access their lab results by clicking on lab icon. Through the diagnosis reports icon, they can also view their X-ray and other diagnosis results.
“Maisha Medik is not only lowering the cost associated with individual doctors’ visits and making accessing care more convenient, but it is also supporting access to care for those who are otherwise unable to receive it,” Maisha Health said.
It added that the app keeps patients regularly engaged with their own health and ultimately, improve health outcomes.
Research has shown that telehealth positively impacts outcomes because it limits cancellations and allows physicians to see more patients. It also provides a new level of flexibility by helping providers deliver the care their patients need, even when patients are not able to make it through a personal visit. This way, the research says, telehealth does not replace the in-person visit, but enhances it.
Maisha said as the country continues to battle Covid-19 pandemic, there was need to limit travelling, but at the same time ensuring people have access to proper health care resources.
“Through Maisha Medik, we have an easy way to find addresses and directions to pharmacies, clinics, laboratories and imaging centres with our seamless integrated MAP system and associated medical care providers’ directories,” Maisha said.
Maisha Medik is helpful to medical practitioners as well. Doctors can view previous medical records of a patient before consultation, prescribe patient medication, and view patient lab and diagnostic results through the various functions available in the app.
“Through the billing icon, medical practitioners can bill a patient and the transaction will occur within the Maisha Medik app. They can also view transfer requests,” Maisha said.
Nurses, assistants, pharmaceutical technicians and diagnostic technicians can also create their accounts and access a wide range of functions.
To access Maisha Health services through the Maisha Medik app, users simply download the App, enter the required fields and upon successful registration, activate their account. They will receive an SMS from Maisha Medik and follow the simple instructions to enjoy all services provided through the app.
Online Reporter