As campuses across South Africa fill with first-year excitement during Orientation Week, students begin navigating independence, balancing studies, social lives, and finances while quietly figuring out how to take care of their health.

Students already use their phones for managing nearly every aspect of their lives, from banking and budgeting to fitness and scheduling. Now, digital health platforms are adding healthcare to this list.

As students increasingly rely on their phones to manage their daily lives, digital healthcare is becoming an essential support system, making it easier for students to access medical care while also providing reassurance to parents that their well-being is covered from the very start.

These platforms allow students to access medical care and speak to a doctor remotely, eliminating the hassle of long waits, travel costs, and surprise bills, a vital convenience for students balancing studies, social lives, and tight budgets.

Lance Blumeris, Head of Unu Health, states that since “Students are incredibly comfortable managing their lives digitally, so it makes sense that healthcare should meet them where they already are.”

He emphasizes that students shouldn’t have to postpone seeing a doctor because of financial constraints, lack of time, or not wanting to interrupt their varsity life.

Digital health platforms are changing how students access medical care, making it possible to speak to a doctor from anywhere, without the stress of long queues, transport costs, or unexpected bills. For students juggling academics, social lives, and limited finances, having access to healthcare on their phone can be a game-changer.

Students often delay seeing a doctor for issues like flu, stress, or skin conditions, prioritizing academics and finances over healthcare. Digital healthcare offers a solution, allowing students to consult qualified doctors via an app for advice, prescriptions, and referrals without leaving campus or residence.

“Students don’t stop getting sick just because they’re studying,” Blumeris explains. “But traditional healthcare isn’t always designed around their schedules or budgets. Digital healthcare removes many of those barriers.”

While university life promotes independence, parents can offer a simple safety net through digital healthcare vouchers. These vouchers allow parents to pre-pay for medical access, ensuring their child can consult a doctor without financial concern. This practical solution grants students freedom and provides parents with peace of mind.

“O-Week is about setting students up for success,” Blumeris adds. “When healthcare is easy to access, students are more likely to take care of themselves early, which benefits their studies, their wellbeing and their overall university experience.”

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