9 Services for Online Medical Consultation in the Philippines

Even after the pandemic, telehealth services in the Philippines continue to be beneficial to Filipinos. Telehealth will still evolve and be in demand—not to replace face-to-face consultations, but to serve as a first touchpoint.^[1]

Choosing the right telehealth service will help you start living as healthy as possible. Read on to learn more about online medical consultations in the Philippines.

What is Telehealth?

The American Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)^[2]defines telehealth as “the use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration.” Basically, telehealth involves contactless consultation.

Telehealth services in the Philippines use technologies like the internet, landline connections, mobile apps, video conferencing, ride-hailing services, and others to address medical concerns with minimal to no physical contact.

In short, telehealth allows you to seek an online medical consultation in the Philippines and request immediate care without leaving your home.

🩺 Telehealth vs. Telemedicine: What is the Difference?

The Federation of State Medical Boards in America^[3] defines telemedicine as “the practice of medicine using electronic communication, information technology, or other means between a physician in one location, and a patient in another location, with or without an intervening health care provider.” This is why telehealth and telemedicine are two interchangeable terms.

While the two terms basically mean the same thing, there’s still a distinction between them. Telehealth is a broad collection of telecommunication technologies while telemedicine is just a subset of telehealth.

To make it even shorter: all telemedicine is telehealth, but not all telehealth is telemedicine. Nevertheless, the general public shouldn’t worry too much about this.

🩺 Telehealth Benefits and Advantages

Convenience - Seek medical advice anytime and anywhere with only a few clicks. Online medical consultation services can help you find the right doctor when you need it the most.
Better access - Now you can get medical care even if you live in a far-flung area. Telehealth also gives better medical access to persons with disabilities, bedridden individuals, and other patients that may require special and urgent care.
Inexpensive - Because it’s all online, consultation fees are rather cheaper compared to traditional checkups. Some companies even offer free online doctors' consultations in the Philippines.
Less anxiety - No need to feel the dreaded anxiety of entering a hospital or clinic just for a consultation. Feeling less anxious when talking about your medical concern can help your doctor diagnose you better.
Better rapport - Doctors can develop better relationships with their patients because of the convenient ways patients can communicate with them.
Reduced costs - Patients spend less when they set up consultations online while health institutions save money on their overheads, thanks to the convenience of online medical consultation platforms.

9 Telehealth Services for Online Medical Consultation in the Philippines

If you're not feeling well, save the trip to the doctor's clinic. Check out these telehealth apps and websites to get an online medical consultation in the Philippines today.

⚕️ Medifi

Consultation hours: 24/7
Consultation fee: ₱699

Medifi started operations in 2015 as a way to ease the overburdened healthcare system in the Philippines. As one of the few telehealth services operating 24/7, Medifi promises to connect you with a doctor online, wherever you are. Through its official Medifi app, you can either connect with an online doctor randomly or search for a specialist of your choice.

How to Use the Medifi Consult Now Feature

Download the Medifi app^[4] and create an account.
Explain your medical concern.
Tap Consult Now.
You'll be connected to a doctor who will address your medical concern.
You'll be charged after you end the consultation.

How to Use the Medifi Find Your Doctor Feature

From the Medifi homepage, tap Find Your Doctor.
A list of online doctors will then appear, along with their respective consultation fees.
Choose the doctor you want by tapping their name.
Tap Talk to Doctor and type your medical concern in the space provided.
Pay the doctor's consultation fee and wait for your consultation.

⚕️ KonsultaMD

Consultation hours: 24/7
Consultation hotline: (02) 7798-8000

KonsultaMD is a 24/7 hotline service that provides medical assistance over the phone. Patients can sign up for an annual subscription or a group plan for up to five members. KonsultaMD partners with established health institutions, including Hi-Precision Diagnostics, MetroDental, Manila Hearing Aid, and more.

There are several KonsultaMD health plans to choose from:

Personal Monthly Plan (₱69) - One member, monthly membership
Partner Monthly Plan (₱99) - Two members, monthly membership
Family Monthly Plan (₱150) - Five members, monthly membership
Personal Annual Plan (₱499) - One member, yearly membership
Fast Pass (₱600) - VIP access for one member, one-time use
Mental Health Support (₱600) - One member, one-time use
Partner Annual Plan (₱799) - Two members, yearly membership
Family Annual Plan (₱999) - Five members, yearly membership

All Health Plans are inclusive of voice and video consults plus access to e-medical certificates, e-laboratory requests, and e-prescriptions upon the doctor's discretion.

Visit the KonsultaMD website^[5]and choose a plan.
Call the KonsultaMD hotlines and follow the instructions.
Download the KonsultaMD app, sign up with your mobile number or Google/Facebook account, and follow the instructions. The app is available in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Visit your nearest Globe Store and apply from there.

⚕️ HealthNow

Consultation hours: 24/7
Consultation hotline: Video call through the HealthNow app

Looking for an online check-up in the Philippines? HealthNow sets itself apart from other telehealth services by providing 24/7 online medical consultation via video conferencing. You can interact with doctors anytime and anywhere through a video call using the HealthNow mobile app.

HealthNow offers two types of online medical consultation services: Consult Now and Consult Later.

Consult Now is an on-demand service that allows you to get instant medical advice from a licensed general practitioner. Alternatively, you can avail of Consult Later by booking a schedule with a doctor and paying for the consultation fee before your appointment.

Each consultation lasts about 20 minutes. Maximize your consultation call by listing down your symptoms and tracking your vital signs beforehand. Also, it’s best to prepare your medical history and other important facts your doctor needs to know.

How to Use the HealthNow App

Launch the HealthNow app.^[6]If you need to talk to a doctor right now, select Consult Now. Choose Consult Later if you want to set a future preferred date and time.
Pay for your consultation.
You’ll find your queue number while waiting for your turn. You’ll get a reminder five minutes before your consultation (for Consult Later).
Click Enter Consultation Room to join the video call.

⚕️ AIDE

Consultation hours: 24/7
Consultation fee: Professional fees and consultation fees vary

While AIDE is widely known as a home healthcare platform, it also has an online medical consultation feature on its app. With this, AIDE now has one of the most robust online telehealth services out there. Its services include laboratory testing, physical therapy, vaccination, and nursing care, among many others.

How to Use the AIDE App

Download the AIDE app^[7] and create an account.
Choose the medical service that you need.
Fill in the request form with your complete details. You’ll then see offers from different medical professionals.
Make your payment to confirm your online consultation appointment.

⚕️ Doctor Anywhere

Consultation hours: 24/7
Consultation hotline: askus.php@doctoranywhere.com

Wherever you are in the Philippines, you can consult a doctor using the Doctor Anywhere app. They offer online video consultations with licensed doctors anytime and anywhere.

Here are some of their services:

General Practitioner - ₱550 for a 20-minute session
Specialist (Cardiologists, Dermatologists, Endocrinologists, ENT Specialists, Gastroenterologists, General Surgeons, Nephrologists, OB-GYNs, Ophthalmologists, Orthopedic Surgeons, Pediatricians, Pulmonologists, and Urologists) - ₱699 for a 15-minute session
Psychologist - ₱1,499 for a one-hour appointment

How to Use the Doctor Anywhere App

Download the Doctor Anywhere app on Google Play Store or App Store.
Select the service.
Tapp the calendar icon.
Choose your preferred doctor.
Select your preferred schedule.

⚕️ MyHealth Clinic

Consultation hours: 24/7
Consultation hotline: askus.php@doctoranywhere.com

MyHealth Clinic offers online medical consultations with the primary care and specialty doctors on their roster. Patients can dial in to their consultation via Zoom.

How to Schedule a MyHealth Clinic Consultation

Visit the MyHealth Clinic website and follow these steps:

Head to the homepage. Scroll down to HOW TO SCHEDULE AN ONLINE CONSULTATION?
Choose a payment option.
Follow the prompts to continue scheduling an appointment.

⚕️ DOH COVID-19 Hotlines

Consultation hours: 24/7
Consultation hotline:
- 1555 for mobile (toll-free for Smart/TNT subscribers)
- 02-894-26843

In case you're worried about showing symptoms of COVID-19, the Department of Health has COVID-19 telehealth hotlines. In partnership with PLDT and the Department of Interior and Local Government, everyone with a phone can call the DOH directly for their COVID-19 concerns. Smart and PLDT customers can call the hotlines toll-free.

⚕️ Generika Libreng Telekonsulta

Consultation hours: Inquire at your preferred Generika Drugstore branch

Generika Drugstore also offers a free medical consultation service over the phone. The Libreng Tele-Konsulta is available at Generika branches nationwide. Just visit the official Facebook page of Generika^[8] to get the updated Libreng Telekonsulta schedules.

⚕️ Bayanihan E-Konsulta

Consultation hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until it reaches its maximum daily capacity of 150 patients

Bayanihan E-Konsulta offers free teleconsultation services for outpatient cases in NCR. It caters to Filipinos who don’t have access to doctors or telecommunication platforms.

To avail of the free service, just go to the Bayanihan E-Konsulta Facebook page^[9] and click Send Message to get started. You’ll need to fill out a questionnaire about your health concerns to help determine if you need emergency medical care or not.

For emergency cases, Bayanihan E-Konsulta can also help patients access the One Hospital Command Center.

Related:

Use a Credit Card to Pay for Your Health Expenses

Medical costs can get expensive. To lower your bill, use a credit card that offers discounts, cash back, points, and other perks such as the BPI Amore Cashback Card.

Up to 1% cash back on drugstore and bills payment spend
Up to 4% cash back on supermarkets and department store spend, plus up to 0.3% cash back on all other local retail spend

Final Thoughts

Innovation will always spring out of necessity. Thanks to platforms that provide online medical consultation in the Philippines, you can consult medical professionals with relative ease. With these platforms at your disposal, you don't have to risk your health and comfort by going to physical clinics and hospitals.

Apply for a personal loan through Moneymax

Sources:

^[1] Telehealth to stay, evolve post-pandemic (Philippine News Agency, November 2021)
^[2]What is telehealth? (HRSA)
^[3] Telehealth and Telemedicine: A Research Anthology of Law and Policy Resources
^[4]Medifi – App Store | Play Store
^[5] KonsultaMD official website
^[6] HealthNow official website
^[7] AIDE – App Store | Play Store
^[8] Generika Libreng Telekonsulta
^[9]Bayanihan E-Konsulta

The Doctor is in: Options for Online Medical Consultation in the Philippines

Ricky Publico

What is Telehealth?