Your doctor is just an app away

While the digital age has almost transformed our entire lifestyle, at the same time it also disrupted many business models. From banking transaction to hailing a ride are now just an app away on our smartphones. From utilities to facilities, mobile apps have put all the control in our palms. Healthcare industry is also being shaken by the rapid transformation.
Now mobile doctors are digitally transforming the UAE's healthcare system and providing advice for mild to chronic ailments on the go, through an app.
Mobile Doctors 24-7 (MD 24-7) is a digital platform that offers remote and house call medical services to registered patients from the UAE, Egypt and Oman.
"If you are feeling unwell and need to consult with a doctor as soon as possible, you can just call us and explain your symptoms to an on-call doctor," Raouf Khalil, founder and CEO of Mobile Doctors 24-7, explains.
Payers + consumer = healthcare
Khalil claims that MD 24-7 aligns consumers/employees as a 24-7 one-stop shop concierge delivery system and payers/employers by avoiding overutilisation.
"In most markets, medical decisions are based on financial incentives rather than true Evidence Based Medicine. This contributes to the unnecessary overutilisation, which not only increases insurance premiums but also has potential clinical damage through unnecessary MRIs, X-rays or even antibiotics," he continues.
According to the World Health Organisation, antibiotics are becoming less effective because of unnecessary overuse.
"Healthcare solution is no longer only a healthcare solution but a consumer behaviour change solution. Any real solution to healthcare must satisfy the two main stakeholders, consumers and payers," Khalil continues.
"Mobile Doctors 24-7 provides consumers with a 24-7 concierge service based on 24-7 Population Health Management and savings for payers, through the practice of true Evidence Based Medicine. In order to change consumers' behaviour, we must offer a better option through a 24-7 concierge level services that could help consumers whether they are healthy, acute or chronic. We gain consumers' trust by telling them the truth about what they need not what they can afford," he says.
MD 24-7 is licenced by Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Healthcare City. It combines next-generation telemedicine, telemonitoring and home health to provide immediate access to highly trained licensed doctors and wellness experts advice via voice/video calls, live chat as well as on-site doctor visits and clinics. After consultations, medicines are also delivered at the doorstep of the patient as per requirement.
"You, the consumer, decide when you want to speak to general practitioners, family medicine specialists, paediatricians, psychiatrists, pharmacists, wellness advisors and case managers. We simply believe that money should be spent on you, not fancy expensive hospitals and clinics," Khalil says.

"If there's a need and it's included in your policy, we will challenge your insurance company to make sure you receive what you need and even expedite an appointment on your, or your family's behalf," Khalil says.
Growth, expansion plan
MD 24-7 serves multiple markets and has more than 240 multinational clients.
"Our proprietary and intractable technology platform is developed in-house and we partner with companies like Microsoft and Etisalat as our technology and telecommunications partners. We were recently selected to be part of the Dubai Future Accelerator Programme as a unique healthcare solution that has successfully integrated the science of medicine and state of the art technology to align consumers and payers," Khalil says.
Talking exclusively to Khaleej Times after raising $2 million, Khalil reveals that MD 24-7 will be operational in six additional countries by end of 2018.
Emirates Hospital, a member of KBBO Group, acquired 60 per cent ownership of MD 24-7, recently.
Established in Abu Dhabi in 2004, KBBO Group is a leading investment group with a diverse portfolio of interests, operating in the UAE and across the Middle East.
Yazen Abu Gulal, KBBO Group CEO, says that MD 24-7 is a valuable asset that is a natural fit for KBBO's numerous healthcare assets such as Emirates Hospitals and CosmeSurge.
"We look forward to strengthening our relationship with MD 24-7's management team and moving forward with its worldwide growth," he says.
Khalil believes KBBO Group is a solid partner to support a rapid expansion plan, however, he says: "We are open to local strategic partners in different countries through franchise or joint venture relationships."
"Looking toward the future, in five years we would hope to be operational in 50 countries through B2B, B2G, B2C and loyalty programs and eventually, we will launch an IPO," Khalil concludes.
- riaz@khaleejtimes.com