To help counsel customers dealing with mental health issues
Roy de Souza, a serial entrepreneur focused on curing cancer has funded nउल्टा (nULTA), an online consultation platform that connects patients to specialist doctors. nULTA has partnered with PhonePe, India’s digital payment apps, using the iOS and Android and iCALL helpline staff (run by TISS) to help counsel customers dealing with mental health issues and with MBBS doctors to answer the medical questions.
According to a report by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, India, the overall Indian healthcare market, which is worth around $100 billion, is likely to grow at a CAGR of 23 per cent to reach $280 billion by 2020, thanks to smartphones and Internet adoption.
Speaking on t he occasion, Roy de Souza, Founder, nउल्टा said, “We are delighted to partner with PhonePe and TISS to provide our users with safer and seamless consultation experience. We partnered with PhonePe and iCALL, a mental health awareness project by TISS to help patients deal with their issues. Whenever they need, these PhonePe app users (iOS and Android) across India can contact a qualified doctor or qualified counselor right from the PhonePe app – without installing any new apps.”
Commenting on the partnership, Rituraj Rautela, Head, In-app category, PhonePe, said, “We are very excited with this addition to our in-app platform. Healthcare is a key focus area for us and we are really happy to partner with nULTA which provides counselling for mental health issues. Our rapidly increasing user base will get to avail nULTA’s services through their PhonePe app without the hassle of installing multiple apps, and enjoy the comfort and sense of security while making payments through PhonePe.”
Speaking on the occasion, Tanuja Babre, Programme Coordinator, iCALL, TISS, said, “Mental health facilities in India are still quite insufficient owing to the limited number of services being offered as well as, the inadequate number of trained and supervised professionals. We partnered with nULTA to help the clients in need of counselling services get consultation through iCALL which endeavours to provide professional counselling sessions transcending geographical distances while ensuring confidentiality.”