2017 at RingMD - Year in Review

Dec 29, 2017
6 min read

Working closely with government, industry and tech leaders around the world, 2017 comes to an exciting end for the RingMD team. In the last calendar year, our team is proud to have served and delivered tech wellness and healthcare solutions to tens of thousands of people around the globe!

Spotlight on RingMD Eyecare & Instant Call Service in Singapore

RingMD Eyecare – Solving Global Blindness

2.5 billion people that need prescription glasses to see can't get them. We're changing this.

We've created an eye doctor's clinic, that fits into a backpack, to solve global blindness. It's easy to use and can work anywhere. An individual is assessed and they are given prescription glasses on the spot. Now it no longer matters who you are, or where you live, anyone can easily get the glasses they need to see and experience the world with visual clarity. Alwar Woman Eye Check.jpeg Our team helping women get their eyes checked in Alwar, Rajasthan, India. Over 200 women came that day to learn about what we're doing and get access to eyecare. For more on what we're doing in India, see this article.

Singapore Instant Call – Speak with a doctor online, right now, wherever you are.

Why leave home to see a doctor if you don't have to? You can consult a Singapore licensed physician right now, wherever you are. The doctors can provide you with medical advice, and depending on your condition, they may also be able to write you a signed medical certificate (MC) to get you the time you need to rest and recover. This service allows anyone in Singapore to pay just $20 to quickly consult with a Singapore doctor, via a video call from their mobile phone, laptop, or any web-enabled device. speak with a doctor online Empowering Singaporeans with fast access to doctors was a no-brainer. Singapore has almost unparalleled internet connectivity and smartphone ownership. It is also a place where a large percentage of primary care services are paid out of pocket by the consumer. Most Singaporeans value their time very highly and want to optimize convenience of all the services they consume, including healthcare. So enabling you to consult with a GP from your desk or sofa is just common sense. Singapore is also incredibly fortunate to have a very forward-thinking health ministry that embraces how technology can improve the lives of Singaporeans. Together we hope to deliver the most convenient and high-quality healthcare in the world. This instant call feature is a step towards this ambitious goal.

**What's on the agenda for 2018?**

Our plan for 2018 is focused on refining our solutions: we are going to make sure that our platform is a place anyone can come to get healthcare solutions, even if they can’t be directly provided by us. This means that we want to act as a hub, which you can turn to with any health question, and we’ll get you moving in the direction of the appropriate course of action. In 2017 we began building this foundation through our blog, with 108 posts broadcasting the knowledge of the plethora of health experts available on our website. So, what will this look like in 2018?

It’s helpful to get medical advice from home, but sometimes that’s not good enough. The reality is that sometimes we do need medicine or physical examinations or procedures to feel better. So we’re ensuring that we will be able to empowers users to have what they need in the event of such circumstances.

Prescription drug delivery During the first quarter of 2018 we will be launching prescription drug delivery. If the GP believes you need prescription medication, they’ll write a prescription and we’ll have the drugs delivered to you within a few hours.

It’s as simple as that. We'll have this done for you soon. Close-up of a delivery man asking for a signature.jpeg Referrals In some cases, when a GP is unable to confidently diagnose you, you may need to see a specialist. We must admit that, at the moment, if you’re using our platform and such a circumstance arises, you’re at a bit of a dead end. You would need to go find a specialist yourself. We think this has to change! So we’re working on enabling the doctors on our platforms to issue referrals electronically. We’ll facilitate the introductions and scheduling of appointments with specialists. This way, when you finish your consultation with the GP, you already know when you’ll be seeing the specialist, and you don’t have to do anything.

We’re working hard to make sure that the next time you’re sick, you can feel confident staying at home knowing we are working to help you feel better.

**RingMD in the News**

We are gaining recognition for its progressive work in Singapore and globally, forging bridges between healthcare professionals and individuals everywhere. Here are some quick links to stories we were featured in this year:

**A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to a fantastic 2017, and here’s to the year ahead, full of even bigger, brighter successes and challenges!**

We're trying to make healthcare more accessible and convenient for everyone. In some places, like Singapore, this means making your primary care experience more convenient. In other places, such as rural India, this means helping people see doctors for the first time in their lives. We think this is important stuff. We're always looking for ideas that could help more people. If you have any cool ideas, we'd love to hear from you! And when you're sick and need a doctor, remember that we are here for you, wherever you are.

We're also focusing on increasing access to mental healthcare. If you're thinking "I need a therapist near me" but don't know where to start, try our therapist directory. We will help you find the right therapist for YOU!

Lastly, if you're a doctor or wellness expert considering offering virtual care services, here are some arguments to consider. Thousands of people a month, in Singapore alone, search for things like "doctors near me" or "gp near me", if you're looking to grow your practice this is a great way to do it.