Amidst the current lockdown due to COVID-19, it has become difficult for patients with various health issues to visit doctors and receive proper treatment. Due to this, many individuals tend to self-diagnose and self-medicate rather than consulting a doctor, especially for symptoms like cough, cold, headache, aches, and pain, etc. People tend to account for a change in weather, lack of sleep or improper diet. However, these issues could be initial signs of an underlying disease that can go undiagnosed. Hence, consulting a doctor remains imperative. 

On World Health Day, Pristyn Care – a healthcare company providing end-to-end services from online doctor consultations to elective surgeries to medicine delivery at home, has launched #ConsultFirst – a digital campaign to reiterate the importance of consulting a doctor first. Pristyn Care’s founders, associated doctors, surgeons, and employees have pledged to consult a medical practitioner first in case they or any of their family members develop symptoms of any disease rather than attempting to self-diagnose and self-medicate, which can be detrimental.   

To address the concerns of patients, while at the same time helping to minimize the burden of the coronavirus pandemic on the Indian healthcare system, Pristyn Care has set up an end-to-end ecosystem of telemedicine. The company has also launched a dedicated helpline number 801 000 2266 for addressing any query related to COVID-19. These online consultations will help people seek advice from experts without having to travel, thereby reducing the risks of exposure and spread. Telemedicine will act as a safety valve for India’s strained healthcare system, thereby increasing the citizen’s safety and bolstering the workforce to screen many more patients than in face-to-face encounters.  

On the campaign launch Dr. Vaibhav Kapoor, Co-founder, Pristyn Care said, “In these times of social distancing when people are confined to their homes, it is extremely essential for everyone to first consult a doctor regarding the symptoms of any disease they perceive. We have set up a dedicated helpline so that people can access a medical practitioner through a single phone call. The convenience of getting expert advice over a call can go a long way in preventing harm from self-medication. This campaign is an effort to encourage a habit of #ConsultFirst to #GetWellSooner.”

Pristyn Care has over 80 clinics and 250 partner hospitals across 17 cities (7 Tier-1 and 10 Tier-2 cities), with General Physicians and Surgeons who have expertise across General Surgery (Laser and Laparoscopic specialists), Vascular surgeries, ENT, Gynaecology, and Urology. The healthcare company has successfully treated over 30,000 patients till date.