Getting access to healthcare in Bangladesh can be difficult. There is one doctor for every 5,000 people in the country and in rural areas, doctors are scarce. An app is helping to connect patients and doctors in Bangladesh.
To help meet rural medical needs, the organisation mPower developed an app which connects patients with doctors via mobile technology. The app, called Amader Daktar which translates to ‘Our Doctor’, is designed to be used by rural medical professionals. The medical professional consults with patients face-to-face and then sends vital health information via the app to a remotely-located doctor. If necessary, doctors can then video chat with the patient to discuss any necessary next steps; provide information on nearby medical centres; and send any necessary prescriptions over the web.
The service has helped more than 1200 patients to date. In late 2014, the team at mPower took part in a six week workshop with the team at IDEO.org to brainstorm ways to tailor the app even further to patients’ needs and, following a 10,000 USD boost from USAID, is looking to introduce the service to Myanmar.
For more information about mPower and Amader Daktar, please click here or check out the video below:
