DOCTOR Jim Sanchez, a stalwart of the Tau Mu Sigma Phi fraternity of the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) College of Medicine, has been a staunch advocate of programs to provide affordable or even free medical care to our less fortunate countrymen.

He has organized free medical/surgical missions all over the country in collaboration with the Tau Mu Sigma Phi and other civic organizations. Many times?when donor fatigue develops? he has to get from his own pocket the funds needed to subsidize these missions.

He wishes to bring his group?s altruistic efforts to a wider scale so more people could benefit from such missions. He has just formed the group, Healthopia, and will be using the power of the Internet to provide readily available information and consultation via the Net and mobile phones.

Available

The website is available (www.healthopia. info). Although obviously, it?s still in its birthing stage, it now contains an online Physician?s Desk Reference (partial); and a community forum wherein patients can ask questions which will be answered by doctor-volunteers of the group.

Soon, the group will also be launching a mobile-based SMS service, TxtDoc, that will provide not only timely first aid advice but also an online confidential patient record repository that will facilitate proper healthcare for the transient poor whose mobility preclude them from accumulating a comprehensive health record.

The community forum and TxtDoc can be a stop-gap measure for those who really need urgent medical advice, but do not have the financial means to avail of it. Patients who also wish to get a second opinion prior to surgery could also benefit from the specialist-volunteers of the forum and TxtDoc.

It has to be emphasized though that face-to-face clinic consultation is still ideal for proper evaluation and treatment of the patient. Remote consultation always has the possibility of important findings being missed. But if seeing a specialist is not feasible, then the forum and TxtDoc are better than just self-medicating or relying on the advice of the well-meaning neighbor next door.

Community forum

Doc Jim?s group has started to build the community forum. A database of commonly used drugs and several articles have already been posted. The contents are intended to have a local emphasis but with an international appeal. They are also targeting the overseas Filipino working community.

Doc Jim is calling for all doctors who are interested in joining this effort in building up a comprehensive medical database, and in offering their services to patients. Once the website has accumulated a substantial base of information, the group?s technical staff will begin their viral marketing to encourage people to visit the site and post questions. Their vision is to make Healthopia into a premier health-oriented portal.

Although a doctor should volunteer in the program for the services he/she can offer, there may also be some rewards for the medical volunteers.

Build reputation

?By providing a good service and by giving quality advice and since it will also cater to an international community (the OFWs), it will also give one (the medical volunteer) the opportunity to steadily continue to build his/her reputation,? Doc Jim says.
He adds that the website also provides signatures with links to enable potential patients to easily contact the volunteer for future consultations and referrals. Signatures are information the volunteer wish to display every time he/she posts an answer in the forum. Healthopia features hyperlinks to one?s own webpage so that a reader can be redirected to one?s site.

?Participation is purely voluntary and based on your free time. There are no requirements except the interest to provide service,? Doc Jim says. Doctors can participate immediately by signing up at www.healthopia.info and start posting articles or participating in the forum.

Subforum moderator

Doctors who have ample time to spare and wish to participate at a higher level, such as being a subforum moderator, may also volunteer for such. A subforum moderator ensures the quality of the posts in their designated forum, which is usually their field of specialization.

This is a lofty program which deserves the support of the medical community. My only concern is that the main target beneficiary of this program?the marginalized and indigent patients?may not have access to the Internet. It would be most unfortunate if those who could well afford but just want to save, would benefit most from this program.

But knowing Doc Jim, I trust that this program has, first and foremost, service for patients who cannot afford the cost of medical consultation as its main agenda and its implementation will see to it that such goal is achieved. I?m sure he will not allow any vested self-serving agenda to come into play. I join his other frat brods in wishing him the best. As the frat greeting goes, ?Hail Tauan, hail Tau Mu!?