Globe Telecom Inc.’s telehealth service unit KonsultaMD saw its consultations increase at the start of the second quarter. In a statement on Tuesday, KonsultaMD saw its consultations surge by 450 percent in April after the government implemented an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in mid-March to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the country. “Telehealth has been in the Philippines for many years, but people are usually reluctant to try it because it is not something that they are used to,” Glenn Estrella, operating advisor for KonsultaMD, was quoted as saying in the statement. Citing the “Digital: The Filipinos Flag of Freedom” report, Globe said online medication consultations peaked during the ECQ. “Just because health clinics and hospitals are predominantly used for testing and treating Covid-19 patients, [that] doesn’t mean the attention needed for non-Covid-19 health concerns just disappeared,” it added. KonsultaMD offers online consultations between patients and physicians without the need to physically go to the clinic or hospital.
