to facilitate second opinion American doctors of Indian origin launch telemedicine for patients

US-based medical firm, My American Doctor, on Saturday launched Telemedicine service in India . The platform will allow patients in India to virtually consult doctors in the US for a second opinion. The service aims to address patient issues related to oncology, dermatology and cardiology among 30 specialties.
Speaking of the service, Dr Raj Narla, Emergency Medicine specialist and CEO, My American Doctor said, “It has been a collective vision of over 40 American doctors of Indian origin to reach out to the needy patients in India. My American Doctor has been conceptualised after understanding the need of the Indian community, the challenges being faced by an Indian patients in difficult situations and with a clear mandate to reinforce the wonderful work being done by Indian doctors in India. It is not a commercial initiative, our vision is to create a patient-friendly sustainable initiative that bridges the gap between an Indian patient and an expert American doctor in a cost-effective manner. We would like to complete the consultation and generate a written report within 72 hours. We are right now focused on servicing patients only in India. Later we will extend our services to the Middle East and eventually in USA. Our price point is $ 149, it’s more of a service initiative to help our fellow Indians.”
Dr Rajan Garg, ICU Medicine specialist and Board member, My American Doctor; said, “Almost over a million patients are travelling abroad from India, every year to seek medical treatment for complex medical conditions, rare diseases, difficult diagnosis and for privacy reasons, apart from those there are approximately four times more patients who would like to travel or get an expert medical opinion from the physicians abroad if they have the resources.”
He further said, “There is also a certain perception that treatment abroad is better, right or wrong that perception does exists. My American Doctor will provide the latest treatment plan to Indian patients using the technology. Indian healthcare systems and Doctors are comparable to anyone anywhere in the world, sometimes patients just need the reassurance that the treatment being provided to them by their Indian healthcare system and the Indian doctor is the right treatment, and sometimes the treatment plan needs a small tweak.
A study of the Journal of Clinical Oncology indicated that the second opinion led to significant change in the management of patients, the study had a sample of 300 to 600 patients and 50 per cent of the patients saw a change in the treatment. A study by Mayo clinic said approximately 26% to 50% patients had a decrease in the diagnosis error after a second opinion. “