Image Credit: MedTour
Docotela, a startup company in South Africa, introduced a South African telehealth platform docotela. Docotela means ‘doctor’ in the Zulu language, building a bridge for providers and patients to meet online. The platform is putting efforts to make medical care faster, affordable, and seamless via an inherent online interface. It was founded by entrepreneur Dineo Lioma in 2023. The service enables patients to consult with respective physicians who are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) from their electronic gadgets, like a computer or phone, without any travel hassle.
The startup (Docotela)commented, “With our excellent platform, we fill the gap between the healthcare providers and patients, serving reliable and convenient medical services to the core. We believe that by availing healthcare more easily, we can help individuals move ahead with happy, healthy lives and expand their lifespan.”
To use Docotela, a patient will schedule a time slot, pay online, and get a video link for the consultation. If necessary, the physicians will issue a prescription, medication vouchers, and a medical certificate. The platform provides numerous subscription plans, involving family and individual options as well as a single-session consultation. It also offers mental health support with its online sessions with the proven certified professional counselors for depression, stress, emotional well-being issues, and anxiety.
The healthtech firm looks to provide an accessible consultation, especially in rural areas, with one click to connectivity. By providing a monthly subscription with limitless consultations, Docotela is supporting users in managing healthcare expenditures effectively.
The startup docotela faces various major challenges like promising the diagnostic effectiveness of telemedicine, especially for critical cases. The guarantee of the safety of personal data and easy internet access in remote areas supports the feature. Docotela should convince the medical aids, insurers, and health authorities of South Africa to ethically and officially understand and adopt online consultations.
The approach has the potential to revolutionize South Africa’s healthcare sector. With the support of the regulatory and professional, Docotela will stand a chance to precisely introduce its approach more confidently with the financial power. Further contribution to its development and polish to the medical consultations online approach. Recognizing the need for the online platform will help healthcare professionals and hospitals work smoothly and accelerate the growth in the vast healthcare market globally, competing in the healthtech sector.
Reetuli Bansode, holding expertise in Healthcare Management, covers healthcare business and emerging health technologies for Towards Healthcare, delivering strategic insights and market trends through clear, data-driven, and engaging content.
