Smart, RiteMED, and MediCall offer free access to healthcare for seafearers

Manila, Philippines -  Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has partnered with leading generic drug company RiteMED, and pioneering clinical services provider MediCall, to provide free health advisory and coaching services to Filipino seafarers via Smart Link.

Smart Link, the country’s first and only prepaid satellite telecommunication service, provides coverage to seafarers sailing within Asia-Pacific, Indian Ocean, Middle East, Africa, and some parts of Europe and the Mediterranean.

The Smart-RiteMED-MediCall partnership benefits close to 400,000 seafaring Filipinos, who make up about a quarter of the world’s sailors. Starting May, Filipino seafarers may now be able to place a free call through their Smart Link terminals and consult a medical professional about their health concerns, even while at sea.

Using the Smart Link satellite phone service deployed across 7,500 maritime vessels all over the world, a seafarer needing assistance simply needs to dial Access Codes 3621 (DOC1) or 3622 (DOC2) to reach MediCall nurses and consult. Calls to these access codes will be free of charge thanks to RiteMED, who are happy to sponsor the service as an extension of their commitment to making quality medical care available for all Filipinos.