The disease came across on the network

Two months of struggle with Covid-19 changed the attitude of Russians to telemedicine

On March 30, the Web.rf State Corporation and the Telemedical Service Dr. Near launched a joint project to provide free distance medical advice for residents of Russia. What was done in two months, says Denis Shvetsov, general director of the Doctor nearby service.

Denis Shvetsov

General Director of the Telemedical Service "Doctor Near"

- What are the intermediate results of the project? Are Russians ready to seek telemedicine consultations? Coronacialsis and self -isolation became a trigger?

- In a situation where the outpatient reception was often unavailable, telemedicine came to the rescue.

The unprecedented action, initiated by the state corporation VEB.rf, has been going on for two months. During this time, we held more than 60 thousand consultations, tens of thousands of people received the necessary assistance.

The demand for telemedicine assistance in the context of pandemia and social isolation exceeded forecast indicators, so it was decided to extend the project, and the number of doctors consulting on the platform to 500 people. If in February many perceived online consultations as something exotic, now telemedicine is closely included in the life of Russians.

- What questions do patients address? A lot of coronavirus appeals?

- Not at all. Yes, in the first two weeks of April, 70% of all appeals were on duty doctors, therapists and pediatricians, users more often bothered the symptoms of SARS. But already in the second half of April the situation has completely changed: now 70% of patients seek help from narrow specialties.

During the coronacialsis, diseases that constantly bothering people have not disappeared anywhere, so consultations of a gynecologist (16.7%), a neurologist (13.6%), a gastroenterologist (12.2%), a dermatologist (12.1%), and Laura (9%) are most popular.

Due to the fact that in many regions an outpatient appointment is limited, people were forced to cancel a visit to a doctor, free online consultations became a necessary element.

According to the appeals of patients, we see key trends, the development of the situation. At a certain moment, the number of appeals to neurologists grew, doctors consulted a lot on panic attacks; A large number of appeals associated with violation of the diet was received by gastroenterologists; Patients were worried about seasonal allergies and maintaining immunity in a difficult situation.

- Are pensioners contact you?

- Certainly. Firstly, even if you do not have Internet access, you can call the phone, and our operators will write you down to the right doctor.

Secondly, self-isolation is a time when we cannot be with our loved ones, and they may need help. Therefore, we turned to the children, calling to write down for the necessary consultation of the elderly parents, because this is very simple - the doctor himself will contact the patient.

- Do people trust doctors leading remote appointment?

- The most important thing is, of course, the qualifications and experience of a doctor. Within the framework of telemedicine consultation, the doctor has no way to inspect the patient, but he can ask the correct questions, collect the history of the patient and his family, understand the course of the disease.

Within the framework of the VEB.rf and Doctor near the program, highly qualified specialists are conducting online. Communicating with professionals, getting answers to their questions, feeling the empathy of doctors and interest in solving the problem, users begin to trust doctors leading online.

We get a large number of positive and thanksgiving reviews from patients whom our doctors really helped. And this positive experience of contacting the service is very important for the development of telemedicine in our country as a whole.

-Where are they more likely to call-from million-plus cities or from the hinterland?

- More and more appeals come from the regions of Russia. 28% of calls-still from Moscow and the Moscow region. However, the Ivanovo region came to the second place in terms of the number of appeals, suppressing even St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. There are also many applications from the republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, the Yaroslavl and Oryol regions, the Krasnodar Territory.

Residents of Siberia and the Far East are actively using the advantages of free distance medicine, despite the difference in time with Moscow.

- And why do you think the number of appeals has grown in these regions?

- Largely due to the fact that our project was supported by local authorities, telling the residents that such an opportunity exists and you can consult a doctor for free, even being in self -isolation.

- Is the demand for telemedicine help also in the world?

-Against the background of the spread of coronavirus, the attendance of telemedicine services in the world in March 2020 increased by 50%. WHO called telemedicine one of the most important solutions in the fight against pandemia.

In connection with the spread of the epidemic, it is expected that in the United States in 2020 the telemedicine market will demonstrate an increase of more than 80% in annual calculus. In China, during the peak of incidence, the number of visits to the telemedicine application Ping An Good Doctor reached 1 billion.

In many countries, the governments have made emergency decisions on the liberalization of legislative norms in the field of telemedicine and the mandatory inclusion of online consultations in insurance programs.

- What is the situation in the field of telemedicine regulation in Russia?

- In Russia, the law on telemedicine is significantly rigidly regulates the industry than laws in countries where telemedicine is actively developing.

The editing to him was brought to the State Duma at the very beginning of the self -isolation regime, but, unfortunately, were never considered.

Although the expansion of the doctor’s rights in the framework of telemedicine consultation, the ability to diagnose, prescribe treatment now would be more relevant than ever. After all, we need to be careful for a long time, take care of our health and the health of loved ones, without exposing ourselves to the excess risk of going to a medical institution.

- Do you think that after the end of the pandemic, Russians will continue to use telemedicine services?

“I think yes.” Having tried one day, and the project “Web.rf” and “Doctor Near” has already helped tens of thousands of people, users are actively introducing online communication with a doctor into everyday life.

Another thing is that telemedicine should become accessible to all segments of the population, for this it is necessary that this service be integrated into the compulsory medical insurance system.

We consider this task a priority. “Doctor Near” is the first company that has become a provider of telemedicine services in the compulsory insurance system of the Kaluga region (region of the Russian Federation), and we plan to expand the program by connecting other regions.

Maryana Bereyazeva , especially for "New"