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China turns to online help as Covid outbreaks swamp health facilities
- Authorities allow internet hospitals greater patient care roles as Covid cases skyrocket
- Tech-savvy users quick to adopt online consultations, but elderly patients more reluctant
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Earlier this week, Amy Luo, who lives in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, tested positive for Covid-19.
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While she struggled with a fever, she managed to obtain hard-to-find medicines at a pharmacy, but as her symptoms began to change, she was not sure how often, or how much of the medicine to take.
“I didn’t go to a nearby hospital to see the doctor,” Luo said. “Too many people were there. I was afraid to get cross-infected.”
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Hospital in China overwhelmed with patients after Covid controls eased
Hospital in China overwhelmed with patients after Covid controls eased
Instead, she turned to Ask Doctor, a mini-programme offered on the Baidu Health platform, which is operated by China’s biggest search engine.
As surging Covid infections strain China’s health system, hospitals and “medical solutions providers” offering internet consultations have been swamped with inquiries.
On December 12, in a bid to take some of the stress off of China’s overwhelmed medical system, health authorities under the State Council notified medical institutions they would be allowed to consult patients with Covid-related symptoms online, and to prescribe drugs.
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These services are known as “internet hospitals” and are part of an emerging sector offering online consultation, diagnosis and treatment.
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