The Da Nang Department of Information and Communications has just issued a document guiding the use of consulting and treatment applications for people infected with COVID-19.

Accordingly, from March 15, 2022, the city started expanding a consulting service under which COVID-19 patients can actively make phone calls to doctors for support.

Illustrative image (Source: /vir.com.vn)

Specifically, when people call the number (0236) 393 1022, they will receive medical advice and support from doctors and medical staff that are mobilised by the Department of Health from medical centres, the municipal Young Physicians’ Association and specialised hospitals.

The medical staff are in charge of receiving calls from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m daily. In case there is a busy signal, the call will be transferred to the staff of the 1022 switchboard to for the recording of the information for later support.

When calling the 1022 switchboard, people listen to the automatic dialogue with the corresponding branches (No.1 for general advice, No.2 for pediatrics, No. 3 for obstetrics and No. 4 for psychiatry).

Call charges are calculated according to telecommunications charges applied to those connecting to a normal landline number.

As for using the remote medical examination and consultation application platform (Doctor4U), the user only needs to download this app on CH Play (Android) or the App Store (IOS), then take steps such as creating an account, choose a doctor and appropriate consultation time frame.

At the time of appointment, the doctor will actively make “video call” through the Doctor4U app to give the patient medical consultations and telemedicine.

The municipal Department of Information and Communications proposed to strengthen coordination to improve the effectiveness of supporting COVID-19 and their primary contacts in terms of medical examination, consultation and treatment in the new normal state.

Accordingly, the district and ward/commune authorities shall raise the public awareness of  the consulting services and guidance on COVID-19 prevention and treatment offered by the Da Nang Network of Companying Physicians in Da Nang or Doctor4U.

Meanwhile, the Hoa Vang District People's Committee will hand over 115 smartphones supported by Viettel Group to the residential group or the community-based COVID-19 teams or the commune-level health stations, support residents to contact the Network of Companying Doctors or the Doctor4U app.

Reporting by THU HA – Translating by A.THU