vHealth by Aetna has announced a special initiative of providing free access to its virtual doctor consultation service, until 15 April 2020 to help ensure people have access to health care during the COVID-19 outbreak. vHealth offers professional and confidential medical consultations by telephone and video for people across the country.
The announcement comes at a time when governments and healthcare authorities, around the globe, are recommending social distancing, to curb the spread of the virus. Without having to travel to a clinic or hospital, people can speak to a doctor about any aspect of their health, such as the management of chronic conditions, treatment of minor illnesses, advice on alternate treatment options, interpretation of diagnostic reports, and guidance on staying healthy.
The service will not only help people who are concerned about visiting a hospital or a clinic at this moment, but it will also help the elderly as well as patients with ongoing health conditions to manage their health needs from home, thereby potentially reducing the risk of catching infections.
The free vHealth virtual doctor consultation service will be available for 30 days from the date of registration. People who register for the service can also utilize the benefit for up to four family members. To register for virtual health consultation, call the toll-free number 1800 103 7093 or give a missed call at 9029096186 to register online. The medical consultation service is available from Monday to Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM, except for national holidays.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr Sneh Khemka, president – Population Health, Aetna International commented, “As the nation’s top leaders are urging people to stay at home and even avoid going to the hospitals unless, in an extreme emergency, virtual consultation can be a single, trusted point of contact, for all their medical concerns for many in the country. As a primary health care service provider, we feel there is a need for us to step up and support the community at large.”
vHealth by Aetna, India offers a broad suite of health services and solutions that is focused on preventative and primary care to behavioral health and wellness counseling. Its ecosystem includes a sizable team of in-house physicians and dieticians in addition to a physical provider network for hospitals, diagnostics, pathology, dental, and pharmacies. Currently, vHealth is serving over 3 million members in India and has a Net Promoter score of more than 65.
