InOrder launches Health Answers: a health helpline and patient navigation portal  

ACCESS Health India’s health systems institute, InOrder, recently launched Health Answers, a free service to help people navigate the complex healthcare delivery system.

Users can look for answers to their questions either on the web portal http://www.inorder.in/healthanswers/ or call on the toll-free number 1800 121 6780 from Monday to Saturday between 9 AM and 6 PM. The web portal has a number of FAQs answered by experts and a user can find the answer by simply typing the keywords related to their query. The helpline ran as a pilot project in May 2021 for callers in the Telangana state and was officially launched on September 1, 2021. The services will be expanded to the rest of the country in phases.

Users can seek information on medical and non-medical services, hospital transportation, how to reach the appropriate doctor and hospital, understanding their financial coverage (through insurance and non-insurance mechanisms), pharmacies, laboratories and diagnostics, availability of hospital beds and medical equipment, and access to donors – blood banks, plasma, and organ transplantation. In crisis situations, the helpline will connect users with volunteer networks and other resources to access food, medical oxygen, and financial aid.