Interview by: Victoria Adekunle
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Dr.Ayomide Adeyilola is a medical practitioner and healthcare delivery expert.
In this interview with FirstNigeriaTV’s Victoria Adekunle, he sheds light on promises and advantages of online medical consulting, its few disadvantages and Nigeria’s present position relative to its practice.
Excerpts:
Question: To begin, what is online medical consulting and how does it work?
Answer: In my own view, online medical consultation is a system where the patient and the doctor do not have physical interaction during the consultation. The consultation could be through a phone call, video call, or even an ordinary SMS.
Question: What are the major advantages of consulting a medical doctor online?
Answer: One major advantage is time efficiency. It saves you time because you do not have to move from one place to another. You also do not have to queue in a healthcare facility before having a medical consultation.
Another advantage is accessibility. If you live in an environment where getting access to a qualified medical professional is difficult, then you can benefit significantly from online consultation. It can help people manage their time more wisely.
Question: How does online medical consultation improve access to healthcare in Nigeria?
Answer: Online consultation falls under the broader concept of telemedicine. In Nigeria, telemedicine has not yet been widely practised, partly because of limitations such as internet connectivity, electricity supply, and regulatory challenges.
However, in my opinion, online consultation can improve access to healthcare in Nigeria because patients may not need to travel hundreds or thousands of kilometres before accessing a medical professional in a particular field. For me, that is a major benefit in terms of accessibility.
Question: That is a very good point, sir. However, some people still believe that unless they physically visit a medical practitioner, they have not been properly examined. How would you respond to this concern, especially considering that some medical conditions may require physical examination or laboratory tests?
Answer: These are valid concerns. Telemedicine is still in its early stages in our part of the world, so these issues remain significant.
In our own environment, what is possible is for a doctor to consult with a patient online, refer the patient for diagnostic investigations, and have the results sent to the doctor. The doctor can then interpret the results remotely, prescribe medication where appropriate, and follow up with the patient remotely.
However, when a thorough physical examination or hands-on procedure is required, the patient may need to visit the healthcare professional physically.
Online consultation can also save patients significant time. It eliminates the need to commute from their location to a healthcare facility and can reduce the time spent waiting to see a healthcare professional. In some healthcare systems, patients may wait days, weeks, or even months to access certain specialists. Online consultation can help reduce such delays and provide faster and more convenient access to healthcare professionals.
Question: Does online medical consultation necessarily reduce the cost of healthcare?
Answer: In terms of cost, I would say it depends. There are different scenarios to consider.
Currently, there are no major regulations in Nigeria that standardise the pricing of telemedicine consultations, so doctors and healthcare providers may set their own fees for online consultations. As a result, there may be cases where visiting a physical healthcare facility is actually cheaper than having an online consultation.
Therefore, while online consultation can save time and provide greater convenience and comfort, it does not necessarily mean that it will save you money. The cost depends on the healthcare provider, the type of consultation, and the fees charged for each option.
Question: What types of health conditions can be appropriately handled through online consultations?
Answer: I would say online consultation is most appropriate for:
•Cases that do not require hospital admission.
•Non-emergency cases that do not require immediate physical intervention.
•Cases where the physical presence of the healthcare provider is not essential and their absence is unlikely to significantly affect the patient’s health or treatment.
For example, some simple or straightforward health complaints may be suitable for online consultation, provided the healthcare professional is properly qualified and licensed to practise.
Question: What are the limitations of consulting a doctor online?
Answer: There are several limitations:
•Thorough clinical examinations cannot be carried out remotely.
•Emergencies cannot be appropriately managed through routine online consultation.
•Relying only on visual observation and the patient’s description can increase the risk of missing important details or making an incorrect diagnosis.
•Network and power supply instability can interfere with online consultations.
Question: Are there situations where a patient must see a doctor physically rather than consult online?
Answer: Yes. These include:
• When there is a medical emergency.
•When a physical examination is necessary.
•When a procedure or treatment needs to be performed.
•When diagnostic testing is required, such as taking blood samples.
In the last case, the patient may not necessarily need to see a doctor immediately, but a qualified medical laboratory professional may be required to collect and analyse the samples.
Question: How can patients know whether an online doctor is qualified and licensed to practise?
Answer: There are different ways to verify whether a doctor is qualified and licensed to practise in different countries. In Nigeria, however, it can be difficult to ascertain this online because there is no easily accessible public list of all qualified and licensed doctors.
Nevertheless, enquiries can be made through the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), which is the regulatory body responsible for medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria.
If the consultation is being provided through a website or application, patients can also make enquiries from the management of the platform about the doctors’ qualifications, level of training, and professional credentials.
Question: What precautions should patients take before sharing their personal health information online?
Answer: Patients should remember that health information is private and sensitive. Before sharing it online, they should ensure that they are using a reputable and secure telemedicine platform and understand how their information will be collected, used, stored, and protected.
They should also confirm that they are communicating with a legitimate healthcare professional and avoid sharing medical information through public social-media comments or unsecured platforms.
Question: How can online medical consultations help people living in rural or underserved communities?
Answer: This is one of the areas where telemedicine can make a very significant difference.
People living in rural and underserved communities may have to travel long distances to reach doctors or specialist services. Telemedicine can allow them to speak with a healthcare professional without necessarily making that journey.
The limitation, however, is the issue of electricity supply and stable internet connectivity. If these challenges can be mitigated, telemedicine could significantly improve access to healthcare for people in these communities.
Question: Finally, what is your advice to Nigerians who want to make use of online medical services?
Answer: My advice is:
•Verify the healthcare professional.
•Use reputable telemedicine platforms.
•Do not use online consultation as a substitute for emergency medical care.