Online diagnostic tool brings testing into medical investigation

Online is the new outsourcing, and your healthcare is slowly and increasingly going there. The online platform DiagnosisMe Africa is the latest convergence between health and ICT to curb misdiagnosis. It is conceived as a one-stop shop where patients can relate with specialised doctors for assistance. Many people already diagnose and treat themselves, with devastating […]

Online is the new outsourcing, and your healthcare is slowly and increasingly going there.

The online platform DiagnosisMe Africa is the latest convergence between health and ICT to curb misdiagnosis.

It is conceived as a one-stop shop where patients can relate with specialised doctors for assistance.

Many people already diagnose and treat themselves, with devastating consequences.

Now an online platform to help physicians dish out diagnoses could shorten the time it takes to reach a doctor.

It promises to elevate diagnosis from mere routine tests to actually ordering tests.

“There is the need to infuse technological innovations to healthcare system in order to improve the efficiency of medical delivery in Nigeria,” said Dr Abasi Ene-Obong, chief executive officer of DiagnosisMe Africa.

“Misdiagnosis happens in Nigeria when there is no tool to give the right diagnosis. And in Nigeria what we provide is what we call routine test. How can misdiagnosis be reduced in Nigeria is by providing tools for doctors to actually order test.”

The platform introduced by Stack Diagnostics, Nigeria’s first molecular diagnostics and personalized medical company, is not only useful for Doctors and other healthcare providers, individuals can also subscribe to it by a simple log and registration on the portal.

After creating an account on the platform, the patient can order for test while DiagnosisMe will pick up tests (in some geographies, providers may take tests to partner locations.

After that, the diagnostic experts will analyze the samples in one of the organization’s laboratories and then the patient will immediately receive a prompt notifying him/her that the test result is ready which can be viewed on a secure provider portal account.

“Testing is about investigation; that is where the misdiagnosis comes from. Now we won’t blame the Nigeria hospital because they can only prescribe tests. Medicine is about investigation and when there is investigation, then misdiagnosis can be reduced.”