Dr. Now "March Non-Face-to-Face Medical Consultations Up 23%... Increased Use for Colds and Pediatric Care"

Remote medical platform Doctor Now announced on the 12th that the usage of non-face-to-face medical consultations increased by 23% compared to the previous month. This rise is attributed to the prevalence of colds and flu during the changing seasons.

[Photo by Dr. Now]

The most requested symptom for consultations throughout March was cold (30.7%). Consultations for mild illnesses such as seasonal diseases like allergies (16.4%) and pain including indigestion and headaches (15.3%) were also actively conducted.

The department with the highest number of consultation requests was pediatrics and adolescent medicine (18.5%). Requests for pediatrics and adolescent medicine increased by 4% compared to the previous month, which is interpreted as a result of the flu and cold outbreaks during the school reopening season coinciding with a surge in demand for pediatric consultations.

Usage during nighttime hours from 8 PM to 11 PM (16.3%) was also active. Due to the nature of non-face-to-face consultations, which are not limited by time, patients can receive medical care even when nearby clinics are closed, helping to alleviate medical blind spots. Doctor Now plans to expand the operating hours of its non-face-to-face consultations and prescription drug delivery services to 24 hours.

Im Kyung-ho, Vice President of Doctor Now, said, "Doctor Now started as an essential app for COVID-19 confirmed patients and now serves as the closest doctor friend protecting daily life from mild illnesses. We will continue to make every effort to create an environment where anyone can receive medical care whenever needed by building infrastructure and expanding operating hours as a complement to face-to-face consultations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.