Angela Lu
Singapore’s digital healthcare provider, WhiteCoat, has partnered with Homage, the on-demand home caregiving services platform, to launch a pilot telehealth programme that complements home-based care. This programme which improves the management of chronic diseases and conditions – specifically hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes – common among elderly patients, by presenting them with a safe and convenient option to see a doctor at the comfort of their homes. Through its mobile application, WhiteCoat will offer Homage customers with a range of medical services including teleconsultations, issuance of medical referrals, as well as prescription, dispensation and delivery of medication at an affordable cost.
Against the backdrop of Singapore’s ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the demand for accessible healthcare options will continue to rise. In Budget 2019, Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat has placed an emphasis on affordable care closer to homes to provide Singaporeans, in particular the Pioneer Generation, with better peace of mind over future healthcare costs, while helping them to stay healthy.
“WhiteCoat and Homage share the goal of making quality, on-demand healthcare more accessible and affordable by connecting patients with qualified and experienced doctors and healthcare providers. For many of our elderly loved ones, travelling elsewhere to seek medical attention or just a simple refill of their chronic medication can be a daunting experience.
“Today, we are glad our technology can be leveraged for a good cause and provide caregivers with the peace of mind that their family members will be able to receive timely and affordable medical attention from a dedicated team of doctors trained specifically for their needs, including prescription of their required medication, in the comfort of their homes,” said Bryan Koh, CEO and founder of WhiteCoat.
The company’s partnership with Homage comes on the back of its recent collaboration with Grab to ensure that medication is delivered within 90 minutes after the teleconsultation.
The company added: “The introduction of telemedicine services has streamlined the provision of healthcare by eliminating travel time and reducing waiting times to see a doctor, so people can receive timely medical attention. This value proposition is provisioned by all telehealth providers for all patients.
“We also expect this convenience to be even more valuable to mobility-restricted individuals as they still face significant inconveniences when traveling to and from medical appointments. Such needless stressors are also no longer relevant with telehealth. We can help patients who have stable conditions which can be addressed via telehealth and reduce the incidence of more costly consultations with specialists.”
As part of the pilot programme, WhiteCoat and Homage have formulated a set of criteria to assess and evaluate if the medical conditions experienced by a Homage customer can be suitably and safely managed by WhiteCoat via telemedicine. Homage’s care professionals will also receive training on the appropriate procedures and protocols so they are able to assist customers who wish to use WhiteCoat’s app. According to Whitecoat, the pilot programme will carry on for six months after which it will “make adjustments as necessary before determining the next step”.
