10 things to know about the new ‘Sema Doc’ service
1. Hello Doctor’s Sema Doc does not aim to replace face-to-face consultation with a doctor but rather help serve millions more. The product is designed to free-up general practitioners and clinics from dealing with non-life threatening conditions allowing them more time to provide a more in depth examination to those who need it.
2. 24/7 Access to Registered Doctors
Day or night, no matter where you are, you have 24/7 access to doctors on your mobile phone, paid via your health account where you can put away money for your health expenses.
All Hello Doctor consultants are registered Kenyan doctors who have received additional training to deal with patients over the phone. They are required to follow a strict protocol of questions to achieve a diagnosis or refer the person to a doctor for a face to face examination.
3. A doctor will call or text you back within an hour
When you request for a doctor call-back or SMS-back, the doctor gets back to you within an hour.
4. It’s private and confidential
Each and every interaction with the doctor, both talk and text, are strictly confidential between yourself and our doctors. Patient’s electronic records are encrypted and stored in an off location server.
5. Prescription over the phone
Subscribers can get a prescription on phone but only for certain medical conditions. In some instances, depending on the condition, you may be referred to consult with a doctor.
The prescription will be delivered to your mobile phone via SMS during or just after you have spoken to a doctor.
6. Sema Doc borrows from Global Best Practices
According to recommendations based on Global Best Practices, 22 Medical Conditions are considered appropriate for remote diagnosis and treatment without the need for physical examination; based on certain exclusion criteria specific to each condition. This list was made up after researching multiple telemedicine service providers worldwide.
7. Health Account & Instant Loans
Sema Doc gives you a Health Account dedicated to helping you put money away for all your health expenses. From your health account, you can pay your medical bills directly at health facilities.
8. Cash Back Benefit
Should you ever need to spend a night at a hospital, Sema Doc will pay you Sh5,000 immediately. All you need to file your claim is your discharge letter and the rest is done with a quick call from one of our doctors.
9. Two daily health tips from a category of your choice
Doctors have created the health tips in various categories. The health tips are included as part of your Sema Doc subscription fee and are sent to you via SMS twice a day.
10. Sema Doc is only available to Safaricom line holders and transfers into your Sema Doc Health Account are done via MPESA or M-Shwari.