admin
Herald Correspondent
Delov Technologies, a United States-based technology company now operating in Harare, has developed a product called Plus263Health with the aim of connecting the people of Zimbabwe to a doctor of their choice using mobile devices like smartphones, computers and tablets, regardless of geographic location.
Plus263Health was developed with the aim of integrating some much-needed technological advancements as well as addressing information technology gaps in the medical industry.
The platform enables doctors to register and create their practices and select their availability and charge per consultation.
The main advantage is that doctors don’t have to incur any expenses and headaches of running an application.
All they do is avail themselves free of charge and get bookings. They charge their fees and pocket all the money for a small fee.
For the pilot projects, places like Mbare, Chiweshe, Muzarabani, Hurungwe, Mutare, Gweru, Plumtree, Hwange, Chiredzi, and Bindura, have been covered, with the residents welcoming the affordability and convenience of the application, especially the delivery of a prescription to one’s home.
The patient is able to select if they want to download the prescription or have it directly sent to the pharmacy on board.
In this case, upon receiving the prescription, the pharmacy will contact the patient to discuss if they will pick it up physically or have it delivered.
This will become the go to marketplace for all doctors and pharmacies, not only in Zimbabwe, but also neighbouring countries.
In terms of security, the privacy still remains with the doctor himself. The platform books and facilitates an appointment and the rest the doctors use their own internal systems, making it safe and secure as no medical record is saved on the platform.
Apart from that, they have added a therapy section where people can search for a therapist and seek counselling services.
One of the application’s founders based in the US, Mr Nyasha Nyamupaguma, whose company has had the opportunity to consult for the largest healthcare companies in the world including Texas Health, Pfizer and AZ, said the platform seeks to benefit, embrace and fit into the already existing healthcare structures, and complement Government efforts to enable healthcare access to every single citizen regardless of where they are.
“Everyone deserves access to a doctor and with our product, a solution has arrived,” said Mr Nyamupaguma.
Speaking at a conference in Chicago, the US, to religious elders of the Zimbabwe Diaspora Community, he received a standing ovation as people welcomed the service.
“We are in Phase 1 of the 5 phase launch and we assure everyone that it will be easier to consult a doctor than to go buy school uniforms in town,” said Mr Nyamupaguma.
The platform has already registered experienced doctors and hospitals like Mbuya Dorcas in Harare have signed up on the platform.
Plans are underway to operate 24hrs a day and seven days a week.
Mr Nyamupaguma also said talks are underway with a Dallas-based international foundation to sponsor a whole village to access the best doctors via the platform for free.
Phase 2 of the project will see more features and the company is pushing for every Zimbabwean to access healthcare.
The diaspora has been supportive in the project “sponsor a patient to pay a doctor”.
Plus263health will be launching under the theme, “Sponsor a patient to pay a doctor”.
When one locates a patient to help, they are directly paying the doctor as all proceeds go to the doctor directly.
Negotiations are underway to with not-for-profit organisations to sponsor villages so they can receive free access to the best doctors.
Similarly, thousands of Zimbabweans in the diaspora can pay for their parents, children and relatives directly to a doctor using international payment gateways and the doctor will consult with their relatives directly.
The platform removes the present inconvenience where usually someone sends money through a remittance agent, and a relative goes to queue for the money, collects it and goes for another queue at a clinic.
With the convenience of international payments, a person can book an appointment in five minutes or less, making it the core benefit, and reduces the inconvenience associated with long queues, travelling long distances and many other hindrances affecting service provision in the medical sector. With Plus263Health, quality healthcare is now available on one’s fingertips and a qualified doctor is a click away.
Patients, doctors and mental health practitioners, are all able to register for free on www.plus263health.com or download the mobile application on Google Playstore.
Registration is free and particularly for doctors, there are no hidden costs incurred. The development company offers a convenient place for them to have an extended reach to the citizens whom they can serve best through ICTs.
Digital solutions are commonplace in the post-Covid-19 era and Delov Technologies has come up with its own way of improving access to everyday services, as it complements the Second Republic’s drive for the attainment of an upper middle income society 2030.
Online Reporter