As Ugandans turn to social media for medical prescriptions, dangers loom

Ugandans today especially the young people have embraced seeking medical attention from their doctors through various social media platforms with WhatsApp taking the lead.

This has resulted into receiving wrong prescriptions due to lack of proper interface with doctor, some thing that has put many lives at risk.

Social media has become an integral part of modern society with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and WhatsApp being the most popular social media sites used in Uganda.

In the recent past, many have used this platform as a way of accessing prescriptions from the doctors especially through WhatsApp given the fact that there is immediate feedback.

26 year old Viola Kwagala is one those that have embraced social media platforms to seek medical attention.

Unfortunately Kwagala regrets her decisions and actions.

She said that she has not benefitted from the act as she almost risked her life and that of her child.

Dr Joshua Musinguzi, a physician, notes that the act has become common. He said he receives more than 10 patients in a week seeking for medical attention online.

He notes that the commonest culprits are family and friends.

Musinguzi condemns the act arguing that 80% of the diagnosis must be from therapy taking and history therefore it is important to interface with the doctor so as to take right treatment.

He notes that this also interferes with the patients’ privacy because you never know who could land on the information yet it is only ethical for the doctor to protect the patients’ information.

Musinguzi condemns the act vehemently and urges both doctors and patients to desist from this act.