By Matthew Brady 
Muniah Technologies, a Chennai-based healthtech startup that offers home healthcare solutions, has launched an app, ‘Va Thala’, allowing licensed doctors, physiotherapists and nurses to fix their own fee as they treat patients seeking on-demand house visits.
The Va Thala app is designed to ensure that patients, in particular the elderly and those with chronic diseases, have access to healthcare services at home from qualified healthcare professionals located within a 5-10km radius, much like an e-hailing app.
Doctors can build their online profile to showcase their experiences, qualifications, and services, and receive and accept patient appointment requests at a mutually convenient time, instead of having to work regular shift hours at hospitals.
Patient benefits meanwhile include not having to commute to the hospital while risks associated with hospital-acquired infections are also eliminated. Additionally, patients can expect cost savings in healthcare expenses, as they directly compensate the physician for their services.