Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) is an organisation that aims to achieve its goals in professional and training of doctors, calling its members and associates towards Islamic way of life through its regular Dawah and training workshops and seminars. PIMA plays a role in the enrichment of professional skills through regular hands on workshops to meet the requirements of the country in particular and of international community during wars, disaster and peace. PIMA relief have also particularly helped during National and international disasters like earth quacks, Tsunami, Floods, Cyclones and wars. Recently, PIMA announced launch of free telemedicine facility with over 40 medical consultants.
In an effort to provide health and medical consultation to people at their homes, several General Practitioners (GPs) have been hired by the association to provide telemedicine consultation to people in the country. Prof. Dr Atif Hafeez, a senior ENT Consultant and office-bearer of PIMA, said “In collaboration with Al-Khidmat Welfare Organisation, PIMA has launched a telemedicine facility to provide medical consultation to people in distress so that they could remain at their homes and seek medical advice from trained and qualified doctors”.
This facility works through telephone and WhatsApp calling on three phone numbers where general practitioners would initially be available for 12 hours a day. Dr Hafeez added: “For instance, if someone suffering from abdominal pain, they can call on our helpline and a GP would answer the call. If the issue with the caller is minor and manageable, the doctor will prescribe the medicine and give advice, otherwise the caller would be referred to some consultant”.
This was done to ensure people stay at their homes amidst the corona virus and get the necessary services they need. According to PIMA, they have received hundreds of call from the sick people. PIMA claimed to have 42 consultants including ENT specialists, pediatricians, gynecologists, general surgeons, neurologists, gastroenterologists, cardiologists, international medicine experts, eye specialists, pulmonologists, psychiatrists and diabetologists. He stated that this service will be active even after the virus is over to help people seek medical advice by remaining at their homes. Dr Hafeez concluded by stating: “People in need of medical advice can on 0315-5550911 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, 0316-6660912 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and 0317-7770913 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm to seek medical advice”.
