Kerala online doc turns favourite

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Getting an appointment with top doctors in town is not an easy task, and hefty consultation fees add to the worries.

But Dr Ashley Mulamoottil, a leading ophthalmologist, has made a difference to it.
He’s available for free ‘online’ consultation 24/7.

He is Malayalis’ favourite ‘online doctor’ and the most followed Keralite on Facebook, as he uses the social networking site for outpatient consultations free of cost.

Social media savvy youngsters flood Dr. Ashley’s wall with queries and he even prescribes medicines for minor illnesses and suggests in-person consultation in case of serious cases.

Dr Ashley, who manages an eye hospital in Pathanamthitta, finds time to consult his Facebook patients amid his busy schedule. Ashley also posts health tips twice a day.

Followers from around the world seek help from Dr. Ashley. Adarsh Ediyottil posted, “I am a computer graduate, if I use mobile phone continuously (for 20 minutes), my vision gets blurred, but when I use computer for long time, I have no such problem.” Within minutes, Dr Ashley responded and asked Adarsh to do a dilated eye power examination.

Dr Ashley, who takes in an average of 20 patients on FB a day, has a whopping 2.39 lakh followers on Facebook, which is higher than the combined following of Malayalam film industry’s two top actors.

Ms. Ansar, who has a rare infection, told the doctor, “A lot of small black dots are floating in my left eye and it is spreading to my right eye, it is covering my vision.

I think no medicine is discovered for this, pls help me.” Dr Ashley replied: “Dear Ansar, the floaters (if they are increasing) have to be carefully evaluated.

Any floaters that increase in number or size are indicative of a serious problem. Please do a test called Indirect Ophthalmoscopy at the earliest.”

Ashley considers his life as a message and has vowed to donate his eyes. When someone asked whether he will he donate his eyes, he replied, “Otherwise, I am not worth anything.”