Benson T
Telkom Kenya has partnered with Valentis Health to offer subsidized medical consultations services to its users.
Telkom subscribers will get service from board-licensed doctors using a medical consultancy service dubbed, Dial Daktari.
This service comes in handy especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients will get service without coming into contact with doctors or other patients.
Using a toll-free number 0800-221-011, Telkom subscribers will get in touch with a care manager who will then connect them to a doctor for further analysis.
Upon diagnosis, the doctor will give the rightful prescription and send the medicine to the patient or they can collect them at the nearest partnering pharmacies.
The patient can also be referred to specialists for further check-up using Dial Daktari. Other services that would be accessible through Dial Daktari include ambulance services in case of emergency cases and Laboratory services.
Patients will use T-Kash Paybill Number 144563 to pay Ksh.450 for the teleconsultation services.
Consultations will be in various forms like video communication, text messages, or audio call. Counselors are on standby to help those struggling with stress-related conditions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and the health regulations like maintaining social distance and working from home, integrating technology into the health sector is a realtime solution to help patients. Telkom seeks to provide this core service in both offline and online modes to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases.
Telcom has played a great role during the COVID-19 outbreak. It has offered a free internet connection at Kenyatta National Hospital’s Infectious Disease Unit at Mbagathi to be used by patients in quarantine centre and medical personnel.
Dr. Don Othoro, the founder and CEO of Valentis Health, said that “the integration of online and offline healthcare means that our doctors are able to deliver seamless consultations, just as they would in person.”
Telkom’s Chief Executive Officer, Mugo KIBATI commented that partnering Valentis Health is a demonstration that technology can play [a big role] in bridging “the gap [between] people, physicians, and health systems.”
