PIMA launches telemedicine programme

Islamabad: The Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) has launched a telemedicine programme, PIMA healthline, to provide health and medical consultation to people at their homes during the current lockdown caused by the outbreak of coronavirus.

Coordinator of PIMA healthline Dr Atif Hafeez, said the facility was being provided through telephone and WhatsApp initially.

"For the purpose, we have 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," he said.

Dr Atif Hafeez said the association had received hundreds of call from people who could not go outside while OPDs at most of the public hospitals were closed.

Until now, 42 consultants including ENT specialists, paediatricians, gynaecologists, general surgeons, neurologists, gastroenterologists, cardiologists, international medicine experts, eye specialists, pulmonologists, psychiatrists and diabetologists associated with PIMA had volunteered their services.

He said people in need of medical advice can call on 0315-5550911 (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) 0316-6660912 (1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and 0317-7770913 (5:00 p.m. to 9:00 pm) to seek medical advice.