Lifebuoy, the anti-bacterial soap brand from Unilever has joined hands with online doctor consultation and healthcare platform, Practo in a new move to take the giant leap into the world of online medical consultation.
With the return of lockdown to keep the Coronavirus at bay, it has become difficult to go out for a doctor’s appointment. The fears over the spread of coronavirus amidst the second wave of the pandemic and the lack of social distancing at clinics, healthcare centres and hospitals have made us anxious about visiting one. This is where teleconsultation steps in. You can now go for a video call and resolve your queries on health ailments with your doctor over the “video consultation.”
Since last year, teleconsultation has started gaining traction. As per a report from Ernst & Young (EY) published in September 2020, “The telemedicine market in India is expected to grow at CAGR of 31% for the period 2020-25 and reach $5.5 billion.” Practo, Mfine, Tata Health, Fortis Healthcare, 1 mg and Apollo 24×7 are some of the leading players offering online doctor consultations.
Practo released the #Hello Doctor campaign in August last year and this latest service offered in partnership with Lifebuoy will help it gain salience. The ongoing campaign urges people to consult a specialist/ doctor via video call. Through this collaboration with Hindustan Unilever Limited’s anti-bacterial soap brand, Lifebuoy, the brand will be able to expand its service to a vast section of untapped Tier-II audience.
Following the release of public service advertisements on the use of sanitisers and the importance of washing our hands, Lifebuoy has now released this new PSA which asks us to give a missed call to 99469 99469. Once you leave a missed call, you’ll be receiving an SMS from Practo with a link that can be used to “consult India’s top doctors from the comfort of your home” for free.
Lifebuoy’s new teleconsultation service which is being offered in India was debuted in China. The brand had collaborated with PhD Media on a similar project called “24-Hour Doctor.” Lifebuoy had launched a free mobile service that connects Chinese parents with health professionals. Through the app, parents were able to consult doctors who worked in shifts and are available 24×7 for online consultation. The initiative was successful to abate the issue of waiting for hours in long queues for a paediatric consult, in a country where there is “only 5 doctors for every 10 thousand children.”
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