Jakarta (ANTARA) – The government has involved 11 private telemedicine services to provide free consultation for self-isolating patients that are mildly symptomatic with COVID-19, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan stated.
“There are 11 telemedicine applications (involved). They are working to help allay the burden at hospitals. Thus, hospitals are for the patients, who need the most. Others are suggested to conduct self-isolation,” Panjaitan highlighted during an online press conference here on Monday.
The minister noted that such services will be accessible to people seeking doctors’ consultation to obtain appropriate guidelines pertaining to either medicines or vitamin consumption or activities during health recovery at home.
The government had commended the private sectors for partaking in providing free telemedicine services for the public in need.
“I would like to say thank you because you are called to do all of this,” he stated.
At a similar event, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin elaborated on various criteria for mildly symptomatic patients suggested to conduct self-isolation at home.
“Keep a watch out for the oxygen saturation level. If the reading is still above 95, no shortness of breath, and no comorbidity, then it is better to undergo self-isolation at home,” he pointed out.
COVID-19 patients, with mild symptoms, are advised to conduct self-isolation in a bid to contain the risk of virus transmission that tends to be higher in hospitals. In addition, the patients are emotionally in a calm state at home, so their immunity levels tend to be more stable, according to Sadikin.
“If patients start experiencing shortness of breath and their oxygen saturation levels are below 95 and with comorbid diseases, then they need to be hospitalized,” he emphasized.
The followings are telemedicine services that can freely be accessed by self-isolated patients at home:
1. Alodokter
2. Getwell
3. Good Doctor
4. Halodoc
5. Klik Dokter
6. KlinikGo
7. Link Sehat
9. ProSehat
10. SehatQ
11. YesDok
Source: Antara News