Have you experienced being at the hospital for almost the whole day just waiting for your turn? And by the time you see the doctor, s/he will just hand you the prescription and a laboratory request for further evaluation? Well, I have. It’s unproductive and you never know if the doctor just requests the lab for no reason yet we still have to pay for it.
As we all know, weekends are usually packed everywhere, including, hospitals. But just when I thought Monday would be lenient than Saturday checkups, I thought wrong. This was taken last Monday when my son had to see a pediatrician. We waited from 8 am to 12:30 pm. On the other hand, I felt bad because there’s a lot of patients, especially, kids with coughs and colds.
Lucky for you, though, if you have doctor friends you can call or text to for initial diagnosis but what about those people who don’t have this privilege? What if we can get a comprehensive medical solution at the tip of our fingers, wherever and whenever?
As luck would have it, there’s Medgate Philippines, a world-class telemedicine healthcare, ready to give you the most convenient and accessible way to get diagnosed.
I know this sounds crazy, but it’s true. I’ve tried it myself, and I’m grateful we have this service available in the Philippines. Allow me to elaborate. Are you ready to know more about Medgate? Here we go.
Are you ready to know more about Medgate? Here we go.
What is Medgate Philippines?
Medgate Philippines started operations more than a year ago. It’s a leading international provider of telemedicine, which was developed 40 years ago for the astronauts in space. Medgate Switzerland started in 1999 and now has operations in the Middle East and Australia.
Medgate Philippines offers high quality, convenient, and confidential medical consultations over the phone. This means that you and your family can have direct access to a qualified doctor for your daily healthcare needs, without having to wait and visit a clinic or hospital.
Most importantly, the services offered are exclusive and confidential.
Source: Spry Living
One of the dirtiest places in the hospital is the “waiting room” according to spryliving.com. My favorite pediatrician doesn’t recommend us visiting ER or hospitals as we may catch unnecessary viruses.
How does it work?
The services are similar to being at the clinic, except the consultation is done over the phone.
- First, you call Medgate where a receptionist (nurse) will gather your details and note your symptoms.
- Second, if applicable, you may also take photos of the affected areas (rashes, pus, boil, inflammation, etc.) and send them by email through the Medgate Mobile App.
- The medical team will then reassess and discuss your condition and ideal treatment with you.
- If deemed necessary, they will issue a prescription.
This information provided is also visible on their website.
Are the doctors legit?
Absolutely. Medgate has family doctors (General Med Applicaitons Practitioners), Pediatricians, ENT, Neurologist, Cardiologist, etc. to answer your medical questions and provide accurate diagnosis and advice.
Rest assured, that ALL doctors at Medgate Philippines are professionally trained to provide the highest standard medical consultations over the phone.
Most pharmacies require a prescription, how do we do that?
Photo via The Fix
After the comprehensive medical consultation, the doctor will email you the summary of the diagnosis, as well as, the prescription you need. You might think, “Well, I still have to go out and buy the meds.”
Well, Medgate got it covered too: You can opt for their medicine delivery service by MedExpress. But, it’s totally up to you. If you find it inconvenient to go out, then MedExpress is the best solution. No hassle. No added stress due to traffic.
But, what happens if the doctor advised you to get laboratory tests for further evaluation?
Medgate takes the term “convenient” seriously. So, if you need a lab exam, together with your HMO, they can send a pre-approved laboratory procedure request to your email that can be presented to your HMO’s accredited diagnostic centers.
Should you need a medical certificate, they can provide a certificate given that it is included in your HMO plan.
But, wait, that’s not the cool part yet. I’m sure travelers would ask: what if we are on a holiday? Can we still access Medgate?
Have you ever traveled to a foreign country and been sick? I’ve been so afraid of being in a foreign environment and all I want to do is talk to a doctor that speaks my own language and know that I will be ok or how to treat my Illness without spending a fortune.
Case in point: I had to rush myself to the ER in Australia only to find out I was having anxiety attacks. I paid AUD50.
Of course! According to Medgate Philippines’ website, “even on holidays in the province or abroad, your doctor is just a phone call away.”
What if I don’t have load / prepaid credits or minutes to call them?
They can call you provided if you text them the following information: Just text: <Full Name>, <Member ID>, <Reason for Consult> and <Callback Number> to: 0917 536 2156 (Globe), 0998 990 7540 (Smart), and 0925 714 7794 (Sun).
The most important question: How much does it cost?
It’s FREE access if you have HMO. Here are their partners:
Intellicare
HPPI – Health Plan Philippines, Inc.
Insular Health Care
Cocolife – United Coconut Planters Life Assurance
AVEGA Managed Care, Inc.
Generali Life Assurance Philippines, Inc.
Otherwise, you can buy their access card for only P2000. One-year validity and you get unlimited consultations!
Isn’t that awesome?
Over to you
I’ve been working from home for six years now. Before I had this privilege, I’ve worked in a corporate world, specifically, in the BPO industry. Additionally, having been in the customer service industry for years, I’ve noticed a ubiquitous behavior: people pay for convenience. Hasn’t this been true for you?
Most often than not, we pay for “extra charges” or “additional fees” to expedite the process, so we can still do important things.
If we have extra time, we can still bond with our loved ones, rekindle with ourselves, and regain priceless moments over food or wine.
As we embrace the digital world, companies show ingenuity so we, consumers, can enjoy the fruits of this dynamic world because we know our time is worth it!
So, cue the drum roll, Medgate is giving away two (2) MEDGATE ACCESS NUMBERS to everyone who will:
1. Like Medgate Philippines’ Facebook page here.
2. Share this article on your wall and tell us why Medgate is beneficial for you in the caption.
3. Tag four (4) of your friends to join the giveaway too.
4. Tag our Facebook page (Facebook.com/wheninmanila).
Please set your post in “Public” for verification. This contest is open to Philippines residents only. This contest will end on Saturday. We will choose three (3) winners who will get two (2) access numbers each. The announcement of winners will be on Monday, August 14, 2017.
For further details, visit https://medgatephilippines.com/. Keep up with their medical breakthroughs by following them on Facebook.com/medgatephilippines.
Congratulations to:
Now you can get a comprehensive health consultation at the comfort of your home! Spread the word and follow When In Manila Health for more stories like this!
