Doctors just a click away

Now, you can select a doctor (specialist), upload medical reports and also seek consultation from global specialists through just a click.

Making this possible is mediangels.com, the world’s first virtual hospital, set up by two Indian doctors — Dr Debraj Shome, a facial plastic surgeon, and Dr Arbinder Singal, a paediatric urologist.

“As Indians always look for specialist consultations based abroad for healthcare, this internet platform would provide online consultations, second opinions and lab tests,” says Shome.

A patient can consult a super specialist and get confirmed information on diagnosis and medicines through the platform. “A second opinion can sometimes make all the difference when it comes to the outcome of a treatment. Many a time, an incorrect diagnosis can result in endless clinical visits, medical expenses and unnecessary procedures,” he said.

MediAngels, which was set up in January 2011, has a network of 300 specialist doctors from 85 super specialties across 22 countries. It follows a flat-fee structure with consultation fee starting at Rs 250.

The virtual hospital has done 250 consultations in three months. Around 60 consultations were made by international patients from across the globe, Shome said. Mediangels has 21,000 accredited laboratories across the country to conduct tests.

It would soon start a sub-domain, rural.mediangels.com, for the rural people. “As people from rural areas mostly do not have access to internet and can't speak English, the sub-domain would develop the content in local languages,” he said.

Mediangels.com was test launched for three months before being fully operational. The portal is module-locked to keep patient’s data in a secured platform and is complied with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, US.