The current Coronavirus pandemic has placed considerable strain on Malta's health system and its dedicated human resources. Seeking to provide a helping hand during these testing times for the country, a group of doctors, following an initiative by family doctor Dr Christopher Deguara, teamed up with Cyberspace founder and CEO Tony Cassar to launch www.doctor.mt.
This portal offers the public a temporary free online platform through which any person at any given time can gain access to correct and updated medical information and receive direct and free medical advice on their mobile phone.
Dr Chris Deguara explained the rationale behind this project: "Doctor.mt will help ensure that people stay indoors as much as possible thereby reducing the load on our health services which at present are struggling to keep up with the increased demand. This initiative also reduces the risk of contagion and being free of charge, lessens the financial burden of our families during the present crisis".
Requests to www.doctor.mt can be logged at any given time, with a team of specialists, working from home, available to reply to requests between 8.30am till 8.30pm. Patients will be asked to open an account, with which they will be able to either obtain information or request a doctor's consultation. A system manager manned by Voluntiera Malta will assign requests to the available specialists in Family Medicine on roster for the fastest response possible. The specialist then calls or replies via WhatsApp and dispense a prescription via electronic system.
Dr Deguara explained that "The project is being totally funded by sponsors and we are all truly grateful that they believed in this initiative to offer a free private medical service to the whole of Malta."
This platform has received the distinguished Patronage of His Excellency the President of Malta George Vella who is also by profession a Specialist in Family Medicine.
Dr Deguara and Tony Cassar expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors who believed in this innovative idea to support the nation through such challenging times. These include Cyberspace, WH Partners, James Caterers, Simblija Care Home, Farsons, Multigas, Attard Brothers, Right Projects Company Ltd, Nectar, Peking Chinese Cuisine, CE installations, Attrans Ltd, CellPhone, Voluntiera Malta and other private individuals.