Sanatorium offers Covid online help

The private Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital in Happy Valley is offering a daily quota of 40 online medical consultations for infected individuals at its outpatient clinics.

From March 7 to 14, 150 patients have booked online consultations, 90 percent of whom reported having Covid symptoms such as coughing and diarrhea.

The hospital's deputy medical superintendent, Joseph Chan Woon-tong, said two doctors are handling video consultations.

The service was launched in April 2020 mainly for returning patients or those who did not want to head to the hospital due to the pandemic.

People in need should first make an appointment online. They will be arranged to see the doctors as soon as the same day if there are vacancies.

Each consultation costs HK$320 to HK$560. Doctors will diagnose and prescribe medicine based on the patient's condition. A medicine delivery service is available with additional charges.

Chan also said its Family Medicine and Primary Care Centre in Central will be suspended from Monday because medics are infected and manpower is strained.

It will allow two to three more doctors to join the online consultation if needed but the quota may be increased based on demand.

However, he said there are certain limitations to video consultation: "For example, patients in an emergency should not use video consultation.

"At the same time, doctors may encounter difficulties prescribing drugs when some parents are unable to provide the weight of their children."

Chan yesterday visited the respite center at Choi Wing Road Sports Centre in Kwun Tong - one of seven centers that the government set aside for elderly patients with mild symptoms.

Hong Kong Sanatorium will take over the respite center at Siu Sai Wan Sports Centre, which is expected to provide 160 beds.

The private CUHK Medical Centre in Sha Tin, meanwhile, will launch a Covid clinic today. It will serve those who tested positive in rapid or PCR tests in the past two weeks and those who had close contact with infected individuals over the past 14 days.

People should secure a booking at 39466320 beforehand. Consultation costs HK$200, excluding medicine.

leone.xue@singtaonewscorp.com