Virtual Healthcare Is Helping HR In Increasing Employee’s Productivity: Amit Munjal, CEO, Doctor Insta
As per an ASSOCHAM report, sleep deprivation has cost $150 billion a year in higher stress and reduced workplace productivity. Amit Munjal, Founder and CEO, Doctor Insta takes us through the usage and scope of growth of telemedicine as an effective strategy to counter workplace productivity.
Can you take me through the work process of Doctor Insta and its need for the employer as well as employees?
Doctor Insta which provides e-health consultations via phone/video and will be a convenient mode of addressing health issues of employees who otherwise are very busy or traveling. As per an ASSOCHAM report, sleep deprivation has cost $ 150 billion a year in higher stress and reduced workplace productivity. Corporates have started realizing the use of telemedicine to reduce the absenteeism by 20 percent and increase productivity by 15 percent. Telemedicine can be more convenient to encourage employees to be more involved with their health. The growing number of insurance careers is offering telehealth care services through wellness programs associated with employers’ health coverage.
How important is telemedicine for organizations, with the growing demands of employers and without disrupting the productivity?
Telemedicine apps work 24×7 allowing voice or video call to a doctor and can be accessed via any smart phone without stepping out of the office. Although, major illness needs to be addressed physically, certain issues can be addressed remotely without hampering work place productivity. This service not only helps patients in getting an instant consultation but also with home delivery of medicines, e-lab reports & e-diagnostic test reports right to their smart phones through mobile/web mail.
Have you tied up with some organizations or plan to do it in future? Can it be a step closer to bring employee health benefits to reality?
Large consumer base have prompted us to add more corporate clients on our roll. We have collaborated with large companies like American Express, SRF, Channel Play. These companies rely upon us to fulfill every medical need of their employees and their family members.
Any organization’s biggest concern always revolves around their employees’ health, and so, the HR is always looking at innovations that improve the lives of the workforce and help the company minimize the costs. Virtual Healthcare is a growing trend in healthcare which is helping HR in increasing employee’s productivity and in reducing both Medical absenteeism and Passive absenteeism.
How well is the industry growing, and what is in store for the future? Can telemedicine replace/transform the existing health policies?
With growing linkages between internet and delivery of healthcare services, the concept of telemedicine especially in the rural & remote areas has gained greater importance.
Telemedicine has the incredible potential to expand access to quality care and provide basic medical treatment to the entire population. It also has the potential to provide healthcare delivery in a more convenient way for patients to reduce overall health care expenditures, increase patient engagement with a higher continuity of care across platforms, among others - which results in an overall increase of quality patient care.
Can telemedicine be really helpful in cases where the patient is unable to express and can do it using technology?
Many people with mental illness have been struggling to get the care they need for various reasons. Due to the ignorance at a policy level, there is a massive public health crisis at hand. In the last couple of years, telemedicine has been able to provide affordable, convenient and private care through video/audio chats. Telemedicine with their ability to remove commute time, cost and the fear of stigma are a promising and practical solution.
How well is telemedicine been accepted in the tier- II or tier- III cities? Is it still relevant in terms of benefits to the employees?
As of December 2017, India had one doctor for every 921 people and most of these doctors are mostly available in tier-I cities. For people in tier- II and tier- III cities, access to quality healthcare is still a distant dream. Telemedicine apps helps in bridging the gap between doctor and a patient as employees of the companies which have tied up with telemedicine providers and their families can consult any specialist at the convenience of their own home and city without the additional cost of travel and waste of time.
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