Since March 2020, 18 million Australians have accessed telehealth services. But an online appointment isn’t just handy for when you’re too sick to leave your house (or bed) to get a medical certificate. Telehealth has opened up access to medical care for people in rural and remote communities, as well as those who are less mobile or unable to travel to their doctor’s office easily.

In 2021, Dylan Coyne, formerly part of product operations at Uber APAC, teamed up with Clifton Hodgkinson, who previously held product manager roles at Uber Australia and Canva, to launch Updoc, an Aussie health startup that connects you with partner doctors online.

From September 1, 2023, revised telehealth guidelines come into play to help close the gap between online prescriptions and good medical practice. The new guidelines specify that when prescribing for a patient, there must be a real-time direct consultation via phone call or video chat.

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Updoc facilitates online consultations for new and repeat prescriptions. Start by completing a telehealth request, providing details like your full name, birthday and address, as well as answering questions about your symptoms or medication needs. Your questionnaire is then sent to an independent, registered Australian doctor for a quick review. You will need to jump on a short call to chat through some more details before the doctor can provide you with a suitable outcome, such as a new or repeat prescription if needed.

Patients can access unlimited telehealth consultations via Updoc for $49.95 a month. This rate includes access to a range of services, including medical advice, medical certificates and prescriptions, as determined by the partner practitioner.

updoc.com.au.

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