Discovery and Vodacom have launched a new platform which will make online coronavirus screening and consultations available to all South Africans.<\/p>\n
The platform provides easy access for all South Africans to a Covid-19 risk tool and will allow you to immediately schedule healthcare professional consultations and get advice,the companies said.<\/p>\n
“The Covid-19 risk assessment and virtual healthcare tools can help to identify people who need health professional engagement and a potential referral for testing or to hospital.<\/p>\n
“This reduces overcrowding at clinics and doctors\u2019 rooms where there is greater risk of the virus spreading, and also protects healthcare professionals from potential repeated exposure to Covid-19,” the companies said.<\/p>\n
The groups said that the platform is simple, free to use and available on any web or mobile phone facilitating a full consultation with a doctor either through video or audio calls or by text.<\/p>\n
The service can be accessed by visiting either the Discovery<\/a><\/strong> or Vodacom<\/a><\/strong> websites, and Vodacom customers can get additional information and do a self-assessment via USSD by dialling *111#.<\/p>\n Through this partnership, Discovery said that its existing DrConnect platform, which was previously available only to Discovery clients, is now accessible to all South Africans.<\/p>\n Together, Vodacom and Discovery have also jointly created a fund to pay doctors for approximately 100,000 consultations, making them free to any South African.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are proud to be partnering with Vodacom on this important and powerful initiative \u2013 bringing free online doctor consultations to all South Africans who need it for Covid-19,” said Discovery chief executive Adrian Gore.<\/p>\n “Discovery has been built on a very simple but powerful core purpose: making people healthier. In the context of the covid-19 pandemic that purpose is very simple \u2013 we need to keep South Africans out of harm\u2019s way. We are very hopeful that this initiative will make a huge impact on the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa \u2013 for the good of all our citizens.”<\/p>\n How it works\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The new platform is dedicated to Covid-19-specific screening and consultations. All doctors are invited to download the Discovery HealthID and DrConnect apps from relevant app stores to join the virtual healthcare platform.<\/p>\n Doctors will receive guidance on how to consult and how to receive payment from the dedicated fund that Discovery and Vodacom have set up for these specific consultations.<\/p>\n Discovery said that there are seven steps to use an online doctor consultation:<\/p>\n