Who are we?

We are a privately owned South African Company Reg No 2021/303716/07 providing a medical platform for South Africans to consult with South African doctors.

 

How can Phonedoc help?

Phonedoc allows anyone who has consent to do so, to use the app to connect with a real time live doctor for medical advice and treatment if needed. We do advise patients if there is a medical emergency to close the app and proceed to their nearest healthcare facility or medical doctor for immediate medical attention. 

 

Do you have to wait for a doctor?

With our smart app you would be able to see immediately if the doctor is available; busy or offline.

 

How will I know if the doctor is available?

On the app the doctor would be seen as Call Now, Busy or Offline. If the doctor is able to receive calls it would show Call Now. If the doctor is on another call, but still taking calls, the icon would show Busy. If the doctor is unavailable for calls, the icon would show Offline.

 

How many language does the app offer?

Phonedoc welcomes all South Africans to use the app and we are in six official languages:, English, Zulu, Xhosa, North Sotho, South Sotho and Afrikaans.

 

How many languages do the doctors speak?

Under each doctor bio you would be able to see the language they are proficient in to treat you. 

 

Is Phonedoc for emergencies?

Unfortunately not. Should there be an emergency that requires immediate attention, which is life threatening, then please proceed to your nearest Hospital or Medical Doctor. 

 

Are the doctors in real time?

Yes, our app allows the patient to have a consult via the app. If need be the doctor can turn on the video to see the area of concern. 

 

Is the Phonedoc App free?

Yes, we will never charge the patient  to download our app. You may incur a cost to download the app depending on your mobile service package you have, but Phonedoc App is free to download from Apple and Android stores.

 

Apple or Android?

Phonedoc App is available on both operating systems Apple IOS and Android. 

 

Is Phonedoc only for South Africans?

At this time it is only available for South Africans and we hope to be a convenient solution to South African healthcare problems. We aim to serve South Africans form all corners of the country via our app directly to a doctor in real time. It is medical care on the go.

 

Are the doctors South African?

Yes, all doctors are South African trained and registered with HPCSA. They could be in South Africa or other parts of the world to cover the out of hours shifts, but are still South African doctors servicing South Africans. 

 

Can I choose which doctor to speak to?

Yes, you will be shown a list of doctors bios which include qualification and language spoken, and would be able to call the doctor that are online taking calls. If the doctor you choose is busy, then you can either hold on for that doctor until he is available or choose another doctor who is online.

 

Will I be charged to speak to a doctor?

Yes, the consultation fee is expected to be paid before consulting with a doctor.

 

How do I pay?

You have to be the authorized card holder of the debit or credit card in order to pay to consult with a doctor.

 

What should I do to get quality service?

Absolutely nothing except to ensure your battery is charged, and in an area where phone signal is not poor, or travelling through tunnels or other structures that could interfere with the signal.

 

Would I be allowed to rate the doctor?

Yes, we would like doctors to know the quality of service they provide and use this to improve our service to South Africans. 

 

Will I be able to get a prescription from a doctor?

Yes, the doctor would first determine if you need medication and would send the prescription to your email that you signed up with. 

 

Does the doctor do sick notes?

Unfortunately not. We prefer you get that from your family doctor who can physically examine you and determine if you need to be off work. 

 

Are we a replacement for General Practitioners/Family Doctors?

No we are not. We are not the primary care provider for patients and advise that patients still continue seeing their family doctor to be examined. 

 

Will I still need to see my Family Doctor after Phonedoc consult?

That would depend on your ailment and if the experienced doctor at Phonedoc feels that you do need further investigations or blood tests you would be advised to attend your own family doctor. Most of the time the doctors would aim to help you get better, but there could be situations where a further consult and investigation are required. 

 

Does Phonedoc do referrals?

Not at this time. We do aim to incorporate that service in the near future. 

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Is Phonedoc POPIA compliant?

Yes we are and have taken POPIA seriously to ensure we are fully integrated and observe the Rules and Regulations of POPIA of South Africa. 

 

Do I have to have en email to register?

Yes. Having an email would allow us to send prescriptions as needed and contact you should we need to. 

 

Would a nurse fist take the call and the  transfer me to a doctor if needed?

No, we offer direct patient to doctor consult from anywhere in the country. There are no call centres nurses that triage calls. Our aim at Phonedoc is to be on call for YOUR call from patient to doctor.

 

What times do we operate?

We aim to operate 24/7/365.25 as long as there is a doctor online to take your call. We aim to get doctors that are registered with HPCSA but live abroad and are still practicing as doctors in the country that they reside in to ensure we fulfill our aim to offer quality service by South African Doctors for South Africans. We ARE on call for YOUR call.

 

Do I have to sign up first to use the app?

Yes, the signup is relatively quick with a few questions and a OTP delivered to your phone to ensure we get the details correct and you are verified.    

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How does the app work?

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Phonedoc System Overview:

There are two apps:
1. Doctor App – Used by doctors.
2. Patient App – Used by patients.

Both apps communicate behind the scenes to provide a seamless experience.

How the Patient App Works:
• Patients select their preferred language (6 South African languages available).
• They can search for doctors based on:
• Language preference
• Qualifications
• Reviews & ratings (highest-rated doctors appear first).
• The app shows which doctors are online.
• The patient chooses an available doctor and pays to connect.
• Once payment is made, the doctor’s phone rings to indicate an incoming call.

How the Doctor App Works:
• The doctor receives the call and answers.
• The doctor has the option to:
• Use video call.
• Use speakerphone.
• Connect to car hands-free speakers.
• Once the call ends:
• The doctor writes a prescription as needed and emails it to the patient.
• A receipt is automatically generated and emailed to the patient (for potential medical aid claims, depending on their plan).
• The doctor makes notes which are stored securely on a private server.