Chronic patients in the Lautoka Containment Area can now call 165 to consult a physician and organize their medication

Chronic patients in the Lautoka Containment Area can now call Telehealth Services with the shortcode 165 to be able to consult a physician and organize for their medication.

This initiative has been developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health, WHO experts and set-up by FRIEND in partnership with Digicel that is providing the Telehealth platform.

FRIEND Fiji Founder and CEO Sashi Kiran sayspatients have not been able to attend Specialist Outpatients Department clinics since the closure of Lautoka Hospital and the Kamikamica Health Centre and the demand for services is high on FEMAT Hospital and Punjas Clinic.

She says FRIEND is organizing general practitioners to attend to the calls and are helping provide NCD medications to the pharmacy that will be packed and disbursed.

Stable patients who suffer from diabetes, hypertension or heart diseases can use the line to talk to a TeleHealth doctor who will help organize their medication that can be picked from the Girmit Centre where Lautoka Hospital Pharmacy has been set up.

Kiran has also urged patients to have their national health ID cards and previous medication history ready when they call the doctors online and those patients who need further care will be directed to the nearest health centres.

She says this service will work closely with Team Health West and is an attempt by them to help alleviate some of the pressure on the health system in the current pandemic.

She says the British High Commission has stepped forward and is providing $28,000 towards the initiative which will be used for TeleHealth equipment and purchase of NCD medications that will be placed with the Lautoka Pharmacy.

The British High Commissioner George Edgar says they are pleased to help the people of Nadi and Lautoka during these trying times.

Edgar says this initiative will facilitate access to medical advice and medication and they express solidarity with all Fijians and admiration for the outstanding efforts of Fiji’s frontline healthcare workers.

The toll-free line 165 will run from Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm to coincide with pharmacy opening times.