Turkish mobile firm links to docs

Avea, one of Turkey’s largest mobile phone operators, has signed an agreement with mhealth provider Acibadem Mobile Health to give its Smartphone customers video links to a doctor when they need emergency or general health information.

The HelloDoctor service will give Avea customers in the 81 cities covered by its 3G service the ability to speak directly to one of 20 doctors at one of Acibadem’s call centres over a video link, 24 hours a day, seven says a week.

The doctors will offer general medical advice and recommendations on medicines, rather than diagnosing illnesses or prescribing treatments. They will also provide nutritional information to children and advice on growth conditions.

If the health problem is considered to be serious, the doctors can request emergency assistance for callers.

The service will be is funded by a monthly £2 (€2.4) subscription fee and calls are charged at eight pence (10 cents) per minute.

Dr Ozgur Turgay, general manager at Acibadem Mobile Health Services, said that he expects around 100,000 people to sign up for the service by the end of 2010.

Link: Avea