Telecom operator Videocon Telecom has introduced Ayurvedic mobile health service for its subscribers in partnership with Think Health Services. The details of the partnership were not disclosed. The company claims that the service will provide subscribers with access to 150 Ayurvedic doctors round-the-clock to discuss health problems and seek treatment advice. Subscribers can access the service by dialling 535133, and will be charged at Rs. 6/min. Interestingly, post consultation, medicines can also be ordered directly on the phone and the medicines will be delivered across 1300 cities all over India through Cash-on-Delivery. How the company plans to handle its logistics is not clear. Since the service is provided over a call, it is not clear how the doctors intend to prescribe medicines without looking at the patient's reports or history. It is worth noting that in March 2013, Healthkart had changed its business model to become a marketplace owing to possible regulatory implications that may arise out of selling prescribed drugs online. However it is not clear if such regulation will also apply to ayurvedic medicines ordered over phone. As of June 2013, Videocon had 2,417,933 connections: 702,642 in Gujarat, 852,520 in Haryana, and 862,831 in Madhya Pradesh. Around 57.22% of Videocon’s mobile connections – a total of 1,383,576 connections – are active. Other mhealth services in India: In February 2013, Spice Global had partnered with Qualcomm to launch health services on mobile in India. The service was supposed to be launched in tier I and II cities to consult doctors. mDhil is another company that provides health related…
