Penda Health launches home delivery solutions and free virtual consultation for patients
Penda Health has introduced a home drug delivery solution and free virtual consultations for patients in a bid to bolster health outcomes to Kenyans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service, dubbed “Pigia Penda,” allows patients to receive a free consultation and an over the phone prescription if needed. Any prescribed medicines are then delivered at a cost.
Speaking while marking the end of a one-month pilot phase, Penda Health’s General Manager for Medical Centres, Marion Kago, said that Penda Health is exploring new avenues of healthcare delivery during this exceptional time when the government is encouraging people to stay at home as part of COVID-19 containment measures.
“The goal of any healthcare delivery system is to support optimal health outcomes for patients. With this service, we are providing cost-effective and patient-centred alternatives to visiting our branches physically,” Ms. Kago said. “While we remain open to serve patients in our Medical Centres, we know that many patients are not comfortable visiting for less serious complaints. This virtual option enables us to still attend to patients without requiring the patient to leave the safety of their home.”
The available services under this option include:
Free virtual consultations
Prescription of medicine
Delivery of medicine.
The service is available for outpatients and payable via mobile money. Patients can access this service by calling Pigia Penda at 020-7909045 24 hours, 7 days of the week. Through this service, patients also access up-to-date information on COVID-19.
On his part, Penda Health’s Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Gabriel Njue said that the coronavirus outbreak has been an accelerator of telehealth—delivery of health services remotely through computers and mobile devices— globally, enabling clinicians as well as patients to have access to service without actually getting exposed to the virus.
“We believe that telehealth is an important way that we can reach patients safely and conveniently, especially during this pandemic. The adaptation of health technologies is one of the ways in which we can continue providing quality healthcare services while ensuring the safety of all parties,” Dr. Njue noted.
