The Quezon City local government unit (QC LGU) is introducing a new way for COVID-19 patients to consult with their doctors. Through a press release on Aug. 27, they announced the launch of a telemedicine system solely dedicated to addressing the needs of confirmed COVID-19 patients.

“The QC COVID Telemed program is an online system where patients who are undergoing home quarantine or admitted in the city’s Hope community-caring facilities can consult their doctors without having to personally meet them,” explained the LGU. Also one of the city’s earlier projects, these Hope facilities serve as quarantine and treatment centers for possible and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases.

This new program also helps the city’s medical frontliners reduce their risk of exposure to the virus. Among those who will benefit best from it are doctors who are high-risk as it allows them to continue fulfilling their hospital duties.

“Through telemedicine, our doctors no longer need to physically visit their patients to do rounds. They can log on to the system and they can do online consultation with their patients,” stated Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.

“Given our situation now, telemedicine has a multiplier effect as our limited number of doctors can practice their field and care for more patients,” added Perry Dominguez, the telemedicine project coordinator and head of the Local Economic Investments and Promotions Office. 

The Department of Health (DOH) donated 15 laptops and desktops to be utilized for the program’s operations. These will be distributed to the city’s HOPE facilities and selected health centers.

Last Aug. 25, the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Quezon City officially reached past the 20,000 mark. It currently has the most number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, followed by Manila City which has more than 14,000 cases.

Header photo by StockSnap from Pixabay

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