Aircel, Apollo JV to bring healthcare on mobiles

Through the 'Aircel Apollo Mobile HealthCare' service, users can get medical consultation over phone for Rs 45.

"Aircel will launch by Diwali this year for its users in Chennai and Tamil Nadu circles, and later expand it to other parts of the country," Aircel Chief Operating Officer Gurdeep Singh told reporters here.

Through Tele Triage, which is one of the service under the initiate, Aircel subscribers can call the Apollo physicians and paramedics to seek medical help round-the clock.

The companies, however, declined to comment on the revenue-sharing agreement between Apollo and Aircel. "This initiative with Apollo Hospitals Group, will bring a revolution in healthcare as it provides the best in medical care on mobile phones anytime," Singh said.

Aircel and Apollo will also offer tele-medicine facility (which allows patients to consult physicians over video for immediate health care) through Aircel Retail outlets and other retail stores from the first quarter of next fiscal.

Aircel has a subscriber base of over 45 million. "This first-of-its-kind initiative will help in taking healthcare services to the masses," Apollo Hospitals Group Chairman Prathap C Reddy said.