In Pune, app launched for doctors’ home visits

Initially, ‘Doctor@Door’ services will be provided in areas like Kothrud, Karvenagar, Patwardhan Baug, Nav Sahyadri, Sinhagad Road, and Parvati

For the elderly, having a doctor visit them at home provides a great source of comfort. (Representational image/File)

Previously for a fever or even a scalding burn one would visit the family physician or then simply call them to one’s home to treat the patient. The ‘family doctor’ has long since disappeared and now in a unique initiative to revive this concept, Pune-based Aniruddha Bambawale and Ashokkumar Suratwala have developed a patient-friendly app called ‘Doctor@Door’.

Bambawale explained how his experiences had been the inspiration for the app. “More often than not we postpone a visit to the doctor because of our increasingly busy lives, growing commitments, and practical issues such as traffic congestion. A timely consultation could help in providing early relief and obviate the need for prolonged and costly medical treatment afterward,” Bambawale told The Indian Express.

For the elderly, having a doctor visit them at home provides a great source of comfort. In addition to the reassuring presence of the doctor, it also allows for pleasant interactions and discussions with family members and hence the duo decided to set up the Doctor @ Door app. “By using technology, it is now possible to reach out to people and provide them with timely medical advice at home,” Bambawale said.

Story continues below this ad

Presently, there are five doctors on the panel including Dr Chandrashekhar Karve. Initially, the services will be provided in areas like Kothrud, Karvenagar, Patwardhan Baug, Nav Sahyadri, Sinhagad Road, and Parvati.

Veteran actor Dr Mohan Agashe who launched the app recently at an event held at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) said that trust is a critical factor in the doctor-patient relationship which has been on a decline over the past few years.

“If modern technology can help strengthen the same and facilitate faster medical help, then we must welcome it. Medical professionals must nurture and build trust with patients through communication and reassurance,” he added.

The app would soon be available on the Google Play Store as a free download. Air Marshal Bhushan Gokhale (Retd) remarked that the Doctor@Door app would be very useful to patients as it could bring back the concept of a family doctor. He expressed the hope that newer features could be added in the future to provide even greater services to people in their homes.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Photos

In pics: From concept supercars to electronic SUV's: Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 was all about innovation

In Pics: From Concept Supercars to Electric SUVs – Innovation at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025