Doctors from the Marikina City Health Office conduct online medical consultations for residents of Marikina who want medical advice on what to do if they have symptoms related to COVID-19. The telehealth program was launched by the Marikina Local government to help manage the influx of patients in hospitals taking on COVID-19 positive persons for treatment. Jire Carreon, ABS-CBN News
Medical consultation for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) concerns in Marikina City can be conducted online through an application, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said Monday.
Through VSee, a messenger application, Marikina residents can hold medical consultations with doctors stationed at the City Health Office building.
"Ito’y ginagawa natin hindi para pangalagaan lamang iyong indibiduwal na tumawag o iyong nakakaramdam ng sakit, kundi pati ang komunidad," Teodoro said.
"Kung suspected COVID case ay meron tayong dedicated ambulance and medical personnel na pupunta kung saan sila nakatira," the local chief executive added.
The online medical consultations are scheduled on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registration can be done through https://pilipinastele.vsee.me/u/marikina.
Christopher Guevara, a doctor for the city's health office, admitted that it was a challenge to do online consultation.
"Kung ano sa tingin namin, doon lang namin siya puwede i-diagnose. Hindi namin siya puwedeng i-physical exam, so base lang sa sasabihin namin," he said.
As of Sunday, the Marikina health office has recorded 45 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the city, including 9 deaths and 6 recoveries. It also reported 17 persons under investigation and 87 persons under monitoring.
-- Report from Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News