On April 25, 2020, The Medical and Health Department of Andhra Pradesh (AP) has launched ‘Covid Pharma’, a mobile application(app) to keep a track of people buying medicines over-the-counter (OTC) for cough, cold and fever from medical stores across the state.
Gist about the app
i.The pharmacies in the State is expected to download the app and register the details of persons, including their mobile number, making OTC purchases of medicines for common ailments & even those who buy medicines with a prescription and share with the health department for better monitoring
ii.Purpose– To monitor patients who experience any increase in cold & fever, which helps to trace easily the persons with any symptoms of coronavirus and works as an additional precautionary measure for regular sample testing simultaneously
Key Points
- According to Andhra Pradesh Pharmacy Council data, there are 68,000 registered pharmacists in the State.
- AP now tops the number of sample tests conducted per million population in the country.
- It has recruited 1,174 doctors on a temporary basis for a year to meet the emergency requirements in view of the prevailing coronavirus pandemic, where most of these doctors will be posted in the COVID-19 hotbed districts like Kurnool, Guntur, Krishna and Chittoor.
AP launches ‘COVID-19 AP’
i.The Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare have launched ‘COVID-19 AP’ mobile application on the android platform through which one can request the authorities for COVID test.
ii.Users can access the app by registering with a phone number & before requesting a test, they need to provide information about symptoms, comorbid diseases and their location and village/ward secretariat number.
iii.They can get contact numbers of their local Asha workers, consult doctors online, go through the list of COVID hospitals, quarantine centres, test centres and also register as a volunteer.
About AP:
State Tree– Neem tree
State Flower– Water lilies
State Animal– Blackbuck
