“Virtual care must be leveraged and incorporated into our public healthcare system to provide accessible, high-quality, equitable, and sustainable healthcare for everyone in Canada.” – Canadian Doctors for Medicare (CDM)
A telehealth app is a reliable, secure, and affordable way to seek quality healthcare service while sitting comfortably in the home.
The government of Canada is also investing a lot of money ($241 million) in telehealth.
Rising Demand for Virtual Care Among Canadians:
- 82% of Canadians prefer prescriptions sent directly to their pharmacy.
- 79% want electronic access to their personal health information.
- 57% are interested in receiving care via SMS text messaging.
Let’s straight away look into the list of best apps with their pros and cons.
Top 10 Telehealth & Telemedicine Apps Making a Difference in the Health Industry
1: Maple Telehealth App
USP: The most popular one and the best telehealth app.
It connects patients with doctors within 2 minutes.
Pros:
- 24/7 access to doctors
- Prescriptions
- Sick notes
- Portable medical records
Cons:
- ‘Symptom checker’ is missing
- Doctor visit fee varies according to time and day
Apple App Store Rating: 4.6/5
Google Play Store Rating: 4.7/5
2: Babylon by TELUS Health
USP: AI-enabled chat-style symptom checker.
Pros:
- Fixed fee
- AI-enabled chat-style symptom checker
- Save clinical records
Cons:
- Set hours of access
- Scheduled appointments only
- Video mandatory on every visit
Apple App Store Rating: 3.9/5
Google Play Store Rating: 4.4/5
3: Akira by TELUS Health
USP: It accommodates psychiatrists to treat mental health issues too.
Pros:
- Top-rated telehealth app
- Treat a wide array of mild medical issues
- Users can access dietitians and mental health specialists
- Encrypted conversation
- Referrals for lab tests and specialists
Cons:
‘Symptom checker’ is missing
Apple App Store Rating: 4.9/5
Google Play Store Rating: 4.8/5
4: Ask a Doctor
USP: It offers the simplest app UI.
Pros:
The easiest way to ask questions to doctors
Cons:
- No live doctor visit
- No prescription
- No medical notes
- No health record-keeping options
Apple App Store Rating: 3.7/5
Google Play Store Rating: 3.8/
5: Dialogue
USP: Can treat all kinds of health issues including dermatologic infections, thyroid issues, common mental health issues, gastric issues, eye issues, and asymptomatic sexual health.
Pros:
- Instant call with a healthcare provider
- Talk to a doctor via text, call, video
- Easy follow-up appointments
- Clean and appealing UI of the app
- Referrals to in-person specialists
Cons:
- Many users complained about poor mental health treatment
- Inconsistent quality with service
Apple App Store Rating: 4.7/5
Google Play Store Rating: 4.7/5
6: Livecare ConnectM
USP: You can store all your medical files on their server and also control who can see those records.
Pros:
- Health tracker
- High-definition video calls
- Secure messaging without revealing the phone number
Cons:
- Poor app UI
- A more doctor-centric app rather than patient-centric
- Only iOS app
Apple App Store Rating: 3.7/5
7: Inkblot Therapy
USP: Personalized mental care plan + one-stop mental health solution.
Pros:
- Confidential video sessions
- Teleconsultation
- Free first session
- Costs only $38 afterwards of 1st session
Cons:
- Does not have a mobile app
- No on-demand care
8: Mindbeacon
USP: 24/7 crisis text line.
Pros:
- Private and personalized mental care
- Set a goal, work on it, and track progress
- Live therapy sessions
- Flexible pricing
- Access all history of chats with a therapist
Cons:
- No same-day or instant appointment with a therapist
- Bo built-in pharmacy to order medicines
9: Felix
USP: In addition to virtual mental care, it also provides doorstep medicine delivery.
Pros:
- $40 online visit free
- ePrescription + free doorstep delivery
- Direct billing with insurers
- Sexual health, daily health and mental health support
Cons:
- No mobile app
- No on-demand instant appointment
10: Cover Health
USP: OHIP-covered televisits or free televisits for Ontarians
Pros:
- Same-day appointment
- OTN-approved platform
- Open 7 days a week
Cons:
- No mobile app
- Limited specialties
Why Now is the Best Time to Build a Telemedicine App in Canada
The Canada telemedicine market is booming, valued at $4.864 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $18.532 billion by 2030.
With a growth rate of 18.2%, telemedicine is quickly becoming a core part of healthcare.
As more Canadians move to rural areas, access to healthcare becomes harder, but telemedicine fills this gap.
In fact, 70% of Canadians believe virtual care is the future, and over 1 million clinical video events were recorded in Ontario alone.
For healthtech entrepreneurs and providers, now is the perfect time to invest in a telemedicine app and tap into this rapidly growing market.
