By Tshidiso Masopha
Healthcare remains a complex topic of discussion in SA. Some argue that our hospitals and clinics are amongst the very best in the world. Others will tell you that it’s not uncommon to have to wait hours in a queue before being given the opportunity to see a nurse or doctor. That’s one of the reasons why so many of us are deterred from going for regular check-ups.
As South Africans, we’re just not keeping our fingers on the pulse when it comes to our health.
Recent technological advancements might just be the solution to our collectively apprehensive attitude towards local healthcare facilities and the inconvenience of going for a check-up. I, for one, can’t stand having to wait an hour and a half for a routine health assessment.
Discovery’s head office, about a stone throw away from Sandton City, is lofty to say the least. Their 8-storey building consists of retail outlets, restaurants, and even a hair salon.
Recently, Discovery invited a panel of journalists to an interactive workshop with the purpose of shedding some light on the healthcare industry inside and outside of South Africa.
Healthcare funding, global health trends, and the rules that govern medical aid schemes were amongst the topics that were discussed. Towards the end of the workshop, we got into an issue that simply blew my mind – digital healthcare.
Innovations in technology have allowed the guys at Discovery to develop a fully-fledged virtual hospital.
The TytoHome is an award-winning medical device that captures clinical-grade images of the skin, ear, and throat. This device (which is about half the size of your smartphone) functions as a thermometer, stethoscope, and otoscope.
With the use of a TytoHome, in conjunction with the Discovery Connected Care App, you can gain real-time access to a treatment plan, diagnostics, and even prescriptions – all from qualified medical practitioners. What blew my mind is that any meds you might be prescribed will be delivered directly to your doorstep, or wherever you may be.
Dr Unben Pillay, general practitioner and CEO of ASAIPA, is also convinced that the TytoHome is a breakthrough piece of tech that is already making virtual check-ups a no-brainer. He also reckons that the quality of images that the TytoHome produces is better than what many healthcare practitioners have access to, especially in regard to otoscopes and torches.
There is one hiccup though, this little device is considerably pricey for the average South African. You’ll need to fork out no less than R6284,00 for this mini medical gizmo.
Ana Endres, Chief Digital Officer at Discovery Health, predicts that in the near future devices like the TytoHome will be far more affordable as more players enter the virtual health industry. We can only hope she’s right.
My mindset had shifted once the workshop concluded. I might not have the funds to be a virtual patient just yet, but I certainly won’t be as much of a stranger to my local doctor.
Deon Koetze, Chief Product Officer for Discovery Health, puts it well: “We all think we’re invincible when we’re young and healthy”. Prevention is better than the cure. If you have some money lying around and an internet connection; you can say goodbye to the waiting room and, instead, enjoy comprehensive check-ups in the comfort of your living room.
P.S. As an interlude, we had a brief talk by Steuart Pennington CEO of www.sagoodnews.co.za on the importance of facts, truth and context for us up and coming journalists. He entertained us with a ‘test’ on a few South African ‘Fact’s’ based on Hans Rosling’s book “Factfulness”, most of us didn’t do as well as we would have liked!
