KAMPALA – International Medical Group (IMG), the parent company of International Hospital Kampala (IHK) and International Medical Center (IMC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MTN Uganda to provide a digital approach to medical access across the country.
Speaking at the launch held at International Diagnostics Center (IDC) on Wednesday, March 3, Mr Sukhmeet Sandhu, the IMG Chief Executive Officer lauded MTN for accepting the development, saying that it will improve health status of Ugandans.
“As International Medical Group, our mission is to improve standards of healthcare in Uganda through innovation, applied research, education and community-based services. As a result of the fast rise of the digital era, impact of covid-19 and strategic partnerships like the one we have launched today with MTN, we are now able realize this dream and we invite more corporate companies and the government to partner with us to improve the health and related services of the population,” said Mr Sandhu.
Mr Joel Oroni, the General Manager at IMC noted that Covid-19 has led to a digital evolution in the service delivery.
“Covid-19 taught us a number of things including the need to go paperless and cashless. As a result, IMC recently rolled out model using the Health Cards and IHK is now using an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to create a seamless customer experience. We are also investing more in mobile and digital platforms to reach out customers and spread awareness about our available services,” said Oroni.
He said that telehealth is safe and fast, asking the public to take advantage of it in order to save time and money.
MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer, Mr Sen Somdev re-echoed the need for partnerships and government support in health sector.
“Partnerships in this day and era are the only way we can expedite growth and development as individuals, businesses and a country. Through partnerships such as the telemedicine partnership we have established with IMG, convenient, affordable and standard medical services will be available to all people from all walks of life, everywhere. We call upon government to support such innovations for the benefit of all citizens. A healthy population will definitely contribute to stimulation of economic growth.”
The function was Officiated by Mr Daniel Okello Ayen, the Director Public Health and Environment, KCCA who lauded IMG and MTN for coming up with such an innovative idea for the people of Uganda.
“Thanks IMG and MTN for taking this opportunity to see how people can get the services so easy and fast,” he said.
Okello assured Ugandans that the information between the patient and the doctor will be confidential and no third party will get to know about it.
On data consumption, Okello said it’s government’s role to ensure that Ugandans are not cheated and in the same way, through Data Protect Act, clients’ data will be utilized accordingly.
How IMG-MTN Telemedicine service works
According to Andrew Mugalu, the Head of I.T and the Telemedicine Project Lead, patients will be scheduled on payment of a consultation fee of Shs15, 000 through the MTN mobile money gateway. The patient will choose the mode of consultation; either audio or video depending on the client’s phone capability and connectivity. All video consultations will be on appointment after the doctor has established the need to have a visual consultation with the patient.
Where necessary, Mugalu says that a sample will be physically collected by qualified IMC or IHK medical personnel from safety protocols after which test results will be shared either through email, audio or video call then be delivered to the patient within 20kms of an IMC facility by a medical assistant.
Consultation services offered through IMG-MTN Telemedicine
Mugalu further highlighted that patients will only be able to access constancy services covering Tele-General Doctor’s constitution, Dermatology consultations, Psychiatric consultation, Laboratory sample collection and drugs delivery.
IMC is currently present in 18 locations across the country, IHK is open 24 hours while MTN Uganda’s network is available in all parts of the country.
About IMG
International Media Group is a group of health service companies with a regional population for customer focus, innovation and quality patient care. The group is comprised of IMC, IHK and International Air Ambulance (IAA).
About MTN Uganda
Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading Communications operator in Uganda, offering mobile and fixed telecommunications, mobile money services and internet service provisions.
