Telehealth firm develops bot with Viber

CEBU, Philippines —  Telehealth provider KonsultaMD (KMD) has partnered with Viber in developing a bot that aims to better track families who have been affected by the typhoon in the Visayas, Mindanao, and Palawan regions, as well as provide critical healthcare services.

 “Our main thrust as a telemedicine service has always been to democratize access to quality care without any geographic restriction. As our kababayans bounce back and rebuild their lives following Typhoon Odette, we are here to help and support through our services,” said Cholo Tagaysay, Chief Executive Officer, KonsultaMD.

The bot can be accessed through any Viber account on either mobile or PC devices, which includes the following features: Marking one’s self safe - aims to track individuals who may not yet be accounted for in local records; Accessing the live list of individuals marked safe within affected regions and provinces ; Direct links to donation channels, telehealth services, and emergency response, as may be needed.

To avail of free teleconsults, users need only to follow these three steps: Visit the Viber chatbot at  https://vb.me/viberphdirectory ;  Tap “free doctor consultation”; Caller will be prompted to talk to a KMD doctor through the hotline. Mention keyword “Here For You” to get a free consultation.

  The bot was launched last December 22, in response to the need for connectivity support for those affected by Super Typhoon Odette, and will be online until January 31, 2022, as communities rebuild and recover.

 With over 1 million Filipino users on the Viber PH Hub, the call and messaging platform is lending their services to the initiative to access more Filipinos nationwide.

Together with Globe and KonsultaMD, Viber are working together to provide every assistance they can to support Filipinos in Visayas, Mindanao, and Palawan start rebuilding from Typhoon Odette.

 “As a communication services provider, we understand the critical role we play in keeping our users connected, especially in times of crises. This partnership with Globe allows us to extend our expertise and support those who are most affected by the typhoon, through features that help them stay in touch with loved ones and also get access to a healthcare practitioner,” said David Tse, Rakuten Viber Senior Director for APAC.

“Viber is determined to provide Filipinos in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, as well as those Palawan, important communication tools that can help them bounce back from Typhoon Odette.”