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PIMA launches free telemedicine facility

Karachi, 27 March 2020: Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) launched a telemedicine project named; “PIMA healthline” to provide health and medical consultation to people at their homes in current scenario.

Coordinator of PIMA health line, Dr Atif Hafeez, said that the facility is being provided through telephone and WhatsApp initially. For this purposes, PIMA has introduced three phone numbers on which people can call and seek medical advice from general practitioners, who would initially be available for 12 hours a day.

Dr Atif Hafeez said that they were receiving an overwhelming response regarding their telemedicine facility and on the first day (Wednesday), they had received hundreds of call from people who could not go outside while OPDs at most of the public hospitals were closed. It’s aimed at “keeping people at homes” instead of going outside for minor health issues and ailments, which could be managed through telephonic advice.

He said that in most of the cases, people needing medical advice for adjustment of their doses from a diabetologist, cardiologist, neurologist would not have to go to the clinics and big hospitals as doctors would suggest medicine on phone, which can be purchased from any pharmacy or medical store in the city.

So far 42 consultants including ENT specialists, pediatricians, gynecologists, general surgeons, neurologists, gastroenterologists, cardiologists, international medicine experts, eye specialists, pulmonologists, psychiatrists and diabetologists associated with PIMA had volunteered their services.

Praising the services of Dr Zakiuddin Ahmed, a pioneer in telemedicine in Pakistan, who has developed telemedicine portals and facilities for several hospitals in Pakistan, Dr Hafeez maintained that even after the coronavirus epidemic is over, this initiative would remain relevant and help people seek medical advice by remaining at their homes.

People in need of medical advice can call on 0315-5550911 (9:00 am to 1:00 pm) 0316-6660912 (1:00 pm to 5:00 pm) and 0317-7770913 (5:00 pm to 9:00 pm) to seek medical advice.

Consultants who wish to volunteer for PIMA HealthLine please submit your details online by clicking here

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