DocCall: a mobile phone based medical advice service to accommodate health care unmet needs in Sri Lanka

Convenience is a cutting edge tool in today’s fast paced world, hence areas which were hitherto not considered fit for technical innovation have evolved to match the needs of the modern society. Instantaneous access to advice by competent medical professionals on health conditions is nowadays considered as a vital need. Prerequisite of such services underscore protection of privacy and anonymity of the care recipient. Moreover, availability of a governing professional body to scrutinize ethical behavior of the care provider is deemed essential to deliver trustworthy medical advice to the recipients. Use of information communication technology to provide health care at a distance (telemedicine) is a novel tool. Empowerment of people to use telemedicine tools to access medical advice in an emergency, chronic care as well as in confidential and sensitive matters is a new landmark in Sri Lankan health care history.