Despite the higher population in rural Philippines, the healthcare ecosystem is drawn more toward urban areas due to potentially higher career opportunities and income. However, this adversely puts doctors working in rural areas under a significant strain. A 2022 Statista report found a staggeringly low doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:26000.
Understanding the severity of the problem, Medgate Philippines introduced telemedicine consultations under the visionary leadership of Stavros Athanasiou, President of Medgate Philippines—efficiently catering to Filipinos in rural areas with limited healthcare facilities and mobility to make innovative healthcare more accessible.
Strategic Expansion of Telemedicine
Leveraging the experience of its Swiss parent company, Medgate Philippines was founded in 2015 to address the challenge of limited healthcare access in the Philippines, particularly in remote areas.
By providing convenient teleconsultations through multiple channels like phone, website, and social media, they ensured easy access to medical help. In 2016, a strategic partnership with Intellicare expanded its reach by integrating telemedicine into existing healthcare plans.
With overworked resources at hospitals everywhere, telemedicine worked wonders for Medgate Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic as a safe and reliable alternative—cementing its role in the healthcare industry.
A Wealth of Experience
What sets Medgate apart from its competitors is its wealth of experience—26 years of handling more than 14 million teleconsultations globally. The platform is robust and tested for reliability and for delivering high-volume teleconsultations to a large member base.
The tele-treatment guidelines allow a General Practitioner to treat a dermatological case or an Internist to treat pediatric and other cases. Instead of relying solely on the knowledge of an individual doctor, Medgate is driven by the work generated by the entire body—enabling doctors to treat and diagnose patients with utmost confidence.
This approach has enabled Medgate to achieve a case resolution rate of 83%, higher than its competition. The medical co-management approach, where doctors with multiple specializations consult on a single case, was the primary reason behind this success.
Medgate is one of the pioneers who passed the rigorous accreditation of the Philippine Department of Health (DoH) to deliver teleconsultation services to Filipinos during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) period implemented to curb COVID-19. It allowed Medgate to reach more Filipinos and work with organizations that play a role in addressing the pandemic.
Understanding the concerns of the Filipino demographic about online consultations, Medgate Philippines prioritizes a patient-centered approach—avoiding a robotic script and focusing on conversation, ensuring patients feel comfortable sharing their worries. This detailed discussion allows for a personalized care plan based on medical history, lifestyle, and specific patient needs.
Global Heritage Leading to Success
Medgate Philippines leverages its international heritage for success. Building on 26 years of telemedicine experience, Medgate linked it to the unique needs of the Filipino people. Understanding the challenges of access, we offer 24/7 consultations through various channels, making healthcare convenient for everyone.
Our robust technology is another pillar of success. We utilize a secure communication platform and a comprehensive telemedicine ecosystem, ensuring patient privacy with encryption protocols and compliant practices. We further empower our patients by providing educational resources, wellness talks, and preventive care reminders, helping them take control of their health.
Patient well-being Above All
The success of telemedicine hinges on putting patients first and recognizing their unique problems. More than just a friendly chat, a patient wants a solution. Medgate understands this and prioritizes conversation to build rapport without abandoning its primary goals.
The training process at Medgate emphasizes deep listening, compassionate communication, and building rapport in a virtual setting. This patient-centric approach of Medgate fosters the trust required for the acceptance of telemedicine—a primary contributor to its positive reputation and continued growth in the Philippines.
Collaborative Approach Enhancing Outcomes
Understanding that collaboration is essential for providing the best possible healthcare, Medgate actively partners with various healthcare professionals and organizations. By integrating telemedicine into its existing services, it reaches more Filipinos in underserved areas—tackling their challenges efficiently.
The partnerships often include specialists across various medical fields. It enables doctors to consult with experts whenever required—streamlining complex conditions. By working with insurance providers and pharmacies, Medgate enhances its processes to make the patient journey hassle-free.
Future of Telemedicine
Digital health solutions will be pivotal in transforming healthcare—making it more accessible, personalized, and efficient. With advancements such as 5G, high-quality consultations will reach even more remote areas to ensure everyone gets the care they deserve.
As wearable devices become sophisticated, their integration into telemedicine platforms will be seamless—giving doctors real-time insight into the progress graph.
On the other hand, telemedicine will not be exclusive to consultations. It will expand beyond consultations to include preventive care, chronic disease management, and even some forms of remote therapy. Anonymized telemedicine data will fuel cutting-edge research, driving discoveries and making treatment plans more individualized than ever.
Enhancing Healthcare Accessibility and Inclusivity
“Everyone deserves quality healthcare, regardless of location or circumstance.”
Medgate continues to break barriers to make healthcare more inclusive across the Philippines by addressing geographic limitations. Its reliable telemedicine services are accessible through a phone, internet, or social media.
Recognizing that health concerns are dynamic and can go beyond office hours, doctors at Medgate are available 24/7 to help people with unconventional schedules or urgent needs. In addition, its multiple channels are also accessible via phone, website, mobile app, and social media—catering to diverse populations and bridging the digital divide.
Social media helps reach a broader audience with health education messages, educational resources on common health issues, and preventive care measures to empower individuals through knowledge sharing—helping them make informed decisions.
The Philippines is diverse with its linguistic nuances and dialects spoken through the archipelago. Medgate appoints multi-lingual doctors to ensure the language barriers do not hinder access to healthcare for non-Filipino and non-English speakers. Serving the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) suffering from the lack of healthcare infrastructure is a priority for Medgate.
Medgate Values
- 24/7 Access: Get help anywhere, anytime.
- Telemedicine Innovation: We embrace technology for better care.
- Efficient Care: Quality consultations that save you time and money.
- Compassionate Support: We understand and treat you with respect.
Medgate Transforming Healthcare
- Faster Care: Get medical attention quicker, potentially avoiding unnecessary hospital visits.
- More Affordable: Telemedicine consultations can be a budget-friendly option.
- Shorter Waits: Skip the waiting room! Telemedicine reduces wait times for appointments.
- Convenience: Receive expert care from anywhere, reducing travel needs.
Company Information
| Website: https://medgate.ph/ |
| Industry: Medical Practices |
| Company size: 51-200 employees |
| Headquarters: Makati, National Capital Region |
| Type: Privately Held |
| Founded: 2015 |
| Specialties: Health, Medicine, telemedicine, telehealth, healthcare, and wellness |
