Telemedicine during Corona period: Dr Lokman serving patients worldwide

'Sir, my mother had been undergone a bypass surgery conducted by you a year ago. Now, she has been suffering from severe chest pain and shortness of breath for two or three days. Her condition is now very critical. She is now at remote village but I live in Dhaka. What can I do now for my mother?' 

With grave heart, Shahin Alam talked to Dr Lokman Hossain over mobile phone about his ailing mother.

Dr Lokman, a Senior Consultant and Surgeon, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Labaid Cardiac Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, prescribed immediately with necessary instructions.

A single phone call made Shahin Alam tension free from the anxiety about the severe illness of his beloved mother.

The telemedicine services of the surgery physician are now available all over the world.

While talking to The Daily Samakal, Shahin Alam said, 'I became worried seriously about my mother's physical condition during the ongoing Corona period. My anxiety went up for sudden illness of my mother. Without any delay, I contacted with Dr Lokman who had conducted my mother's surgery earlier. He responded promptly with due prescription."

"In the current lockdown situation, I would have been faced a big harassment if would not get the telemedicine service," he continued.

Physicians and health workers are at the frontline of the fighting against deadly coronavirus. And for this, some of them have already been attacked with the virus and several physicians have, meanwhile, lost their lives.

However, there are many allegations that some hospitals are not treating patients during this crisis time.

But a good number of physicians have come forward to stand by the patients since the beginning of the crisis. They are providing medical treatment round the clock.

One of those kind-hearted physicians is Dr Lokman Hossain. He is serving patients using social media platform - Facebook and talking over mobile phone.

Dr Lokman told The Daily Samakal that many patients are now reluctant to move or admit into hospital taking health risks and unavailability of public transports. Under the circumstances, he was giving more time to patients on online and on mobile phone.

He also said that if any patient feels problems or falls ill, he advises them sending the necessary tests including ECG, blood test, X-ray from the local hospitals on WhatsApp. After seeing those reports he was prescribing medicines with necessary advices, he said.

Dr Lokman Hossain continued saying that the telemedicine services have been gaining popularity among the patients since its launching . People not only from Bangladesh but also from foreign countries are making phone calls and receiving the services. Most of the foreign callers are Bangladeshi expatriates.

"Some expats said language is the main barrier in getting telemedicine service abroad and for this, they are taking the medical service from Bangladesh," said the cardiologist.

Dr Lokman added that if anyone makes call from the country's remote village where there is no internet, he tells him to go to the nearby pharmacy, talk to the pharmacy staffs and give the patient necessary medicines and advices.

The physician said that heart-disease patients are one of most risk patients at this corona time as corona attacks the lungs first. And the heart exists next to the lungs. This is also a bad time for those who are suffering from other complex diseases like kidney, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Regarding coronavirus, Dr Lokman said, in case of any emergency, only one member of the family should go out wearing safety equipments. On return, he or she must take bath with warm water.

Increasing body's resistance to disease should be given priority, he added.

"Moreover, we need to pay more attention to take nutritious food, including vegetables. Those who have less heart pumping will have to drink more water and other foods one after another. The heart cannot take the load of more than one meal at a time," he opined.

When asked about the telemedicine services, philanthophic physician Lokman said, he feels good to think that he is doing something for the endangered human beings.

"I feel lucky and limitless joy, happiness when any patient gets rid of the disease and this good feelings cannot be explained in words," he continued.