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A REPORT

ON
ONILINE HEALTH SERVICES AT HAMRODOCTOR

By:

Rohan Byanjankar
Nisha Thapa Magar

Submitted to:
Sushil Upreti
Department of IT
Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Course


E-commerce
Sallaghari, Bhaktapur
March 19, 2015

I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Sainik Awashiya Mahavidyalaya,
Sallaghari, Bhaktapur, for providing the golden opportunity to prepare a project work on
A report on the Online Health Services at HamroDoctor. Our horizon of knowledge has
expanded and has made us aware about the contemporary situation of online health services
in Nepal that has been contributing to raise awareness on public health.

We are extremely thankful to Mr. Sushil Upreti, for his immeasurable contribution in
choosing the appropriate area for conducting our research. Moreover, we express our
sincere thanks to Mr. Ram Singh Budal, the BBA program co-ordinator for supporting us
with the recommendation letter for the visit without which we would not have been able to
prepare this project work being in bound of complete formality. In addition, we would
express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Ashok Raj Pandey and Mr. Uddhav Raj Bhetuwal for
their valuable time and enriched information. Like-wise, we would like to thank for the
recommendations of our friends in preparation of Google form which was also very
helpful.

As learning isnt just acquiring knowledge from books only but implementing it real life
situation. We, therefore, feel that this is the platform where we get the opportunity to
exhibit our skills, creativity etc. Such work will certainly lay the foundation stone for us to
enhance the degree of our potentiality.

We would highly acknowledge any suggestions and comments from the readers that will
assist in further improvement of this project work.

18 August 2016

BBA 6th Semester

II
DECLARATION
We, the project team (Rohan Byanjankar and Nisha Thapa Magar) declare that the work
presented in the form of report entitled ONLINE HEALTH SERVICES AT
HAMRODOCTOR submitted to department of IT, Sainik Awashiya Mahavidyalaya, is
our original work done in the form of partial fulfillment of the requirement of BBA
program E-commerce course of Sixth semester under the supervision of Sushil Upreti,
Sainik Awashiya Mahavidyalaya.

Date:

Project team

BBA program, Sixth Semester,

Sainik Awashiya Mahavidyalaya

III
RECOMMENDATION
This is to certify that the report submitted by Rohan Byanjankar and Nisha Thapa Magar
entitled ONLINE HEALTH SERVICES AT HAMRODOCTOR has been prepared and
submitted in the prescribed format of department of IT, Sainik Awashiya Mahavidyalaya.
This report is forwarded for evaluation.

(Sushil Upreti)

Department of IT

Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya

IV
EVALUATION SHEET
We have concluded the viva-voce examination of the report prepared and presented by
Rohan Byanjankar and Nisha Thapa Magar entitled ONLINE HEALTH SERVICES AT
HAMRODOCTOR and found the report to be the original work and according to the
prescribed format. We recommend the report to be accepted as partial fulfilment of the
requirements for E-commerce subject of BBA program.

(Sushil Upreti) ( )

Internal Evaluator External Expert

V
ABSTRACT
The project work provides the short information regarding online health services at
HamroDoctor. The project work in an introductory phase encompasses background of
study, introduction of group members, concept of online health facilities, methodology of
study, and limitation of study. The project work discusses the short description of
HamroDoctor, which includes background information, establishment, founders,
objectives and realm of HamroDoctor. The major portion of the report is concentrated on
online health services at HamroDoctor, which encompasses e-commerce, e-commerce
business model, marketing, customer trust and ethical issues at HamroDoctor. The
objectives of study has also been presented in five points. One of the backbones of this
research lies on facts and figures. The facts and figures presented on this report is based on
online survey via Google Form and specific company related facts and figures have been
based on interview with one of the founding members of HamroDoctor. The working
mechanism of HamroDoctor, Porters five forces model describing HamroDoctor, and
SWOT analysis have been depicted on finding section. The conclusion and
recommendation have been presented by focusing on the objectives of study and objectives
of HamroDoctor.

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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Team Members of HamroDoctor ......................................................................... 6
Table 2: Growing Visitors and their trust at HamroDoctor ............................................. 25
Table 3: Online Survey: How often do you use internet (daily)? .................................... 26
Table 4: Online Survey: How do you access to internet? ................................................ 27
Table 5: Online Survey: How often do you take medical services online? ..................... 28
Table 6: Online Survey: Do you find health related information in the internet useful? 29
Table 7: Online Survey: Are you interested in health related news? ............................... 30
Table 8: Online Survey: Do you believe in information by health websites? ................. 31
Table 9: Online Survey: How often do you view Facebook pages related to health? ..... 32
Table 10: Online Survey: Have you subscribed any health portals or health websites? . 32
Table 11: Online Survey: What technique do you use to remember your medicine time?
................................................................................................................................... 33
Table 12: Online Survey: Do you think online health mobile application helpful? ........ 34
Table 13: Online Survey: What services do you expect from mobile health application?
................................................................................................................................... 35
Table 14: Online Survey: Which one do you prefer mobile app or website or both or none?
................................................................................................................................... 36
Table 15: Online Survey: Age of Respondents. ............................................................... 37
Table 16: Online Survey: Respondent's Gender .............................................................. 38
Table 17: Online Survey: Education of Respondent ........................................................ 39
Table 18: General Information about HamroDoctor........................................................ 40
Table 19: Number of Doctors, Hospitals, and Ambulance associated with HamroDoctor
................................................................................................................................... 40
Table 20: Number of People Involved in Technical Support .......................................... 41
Table 21: Total Cost of Developing App and Website .................................................... 41
Table 22: Number of Unique Visitors per day................................................................. 42
Table 23: Number of online enquiry and appointment per month ................................... 42

VII
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2: Online Enquiry at HamroDoctor 8
Figure 3: Free Online Hospital Appointment at HamroDoctor 9
Figure 4: How information about hospital presented in HamroDoctor? 10
Figure 5: How information about disease presented in HamroDoctor? 11
Figure 6: Medicine Tracking System in HamroDoctor 12
Figure 7: How frequently the news is updated in HamroDoctor? 13
Figure 8: How easy is HamroDoctor to use? 14
Figure 9: Contents of HamroDoctor 14
Figure 10: Easy Navigation at HamroDoctor 15
Figure 11: Android Mobile Application of HamroDoctor 16
Figure 12: Facebook Page of HamroDoctor 17
Figure 13: News Update at HamroDoctor 18
Figure 14: Online Subscription at HamroDoctor 20
Figure 15: Advertisement on website of HamroDoctor 21
Figure 16: Publicity of HamroDoctor by Karobar Business Newspaper 24
Figure 17: Online Survey: How often do you use internet (daily)? 27
Figure 18: Online Survey: How do you access to internet? 27
Figure 19: Online Survey: How often do you take medical services online? 28
Figure 20: Online Survey: Have you ever searched remedies of health problems in
internet? 29
Figure 21: Online Survey: Do you find health related information in the internet useful?
30
Figure 22: Online Survey: Are you interested in health related news? 30
Figure 23: Online Survey: Do you believe in information by health websites? 31
Figure 24: Online Survey: How often do you view Facebook pages related to health? 32
Figure 25: Online Survey: Have you subscribed any health portals or health websites? 32
Figure 26: Online Survey: What technique do you use to remember your medicine time?
33
Figure 27: Online Survey: Have you ever used any health related websites? 33
Figure 28: Online Survey: Have you ever used any health related mobile app? 34

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Figure 29: Online Survey: Do you think online health mobile application helpful? 35
Figure 30: Online Survey: What services do you expect from mobile health application?
36
Figure 31: Online Survey: Which one do you prefer mobile app or website or both or
none? 36
Figure 32: Online Survey: Age of Respondents. 38
Figure 33: Online Survey: Respondent's Gender 38
Figure 34: Online Survey: Education of Respondent 39
Figure 35: Company Structure of HamroDoctor 42
Figure 36: The working mechanism of HamroDoctor 45
Figure 37: Porter's Five Forces Model 46

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TABLE OF CONTENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................... II

DECLARATION............................................................................................................. III

RECOMMENDATION .................................................................................................. IV

EVALUATION SHEET .................................................................................................. V

ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... VI

LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ VII

LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... VIII

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1

1.1. Background of the study 1

1.2. Introduction of Group Members 1

1.3. Concept of Online health facilities 1

1.4. Methodology of study 2

1.5. Limitations of the study 2

CHAPTER 2: HAMRODOCTOR: A SHORT INTRODUCTION ............................. 4

2.1. Background of HamroDoctor 4

2.2. Establishment of HamroDoctor 4

2.3. Founders and other team members 5

2.4. Objectives of HamroDoctor 7

2.5. Realm of HamroDoctor 7

CHAPTER 3: HAMRODOCTOR: ONLINE HEALTH FACILITIES ...................... 8

3.1. Online Health Services at HamroDoctor 8

3.1.1. Online Medical Enquiry 8

3.1.2. Online Doctor Appointment 8

3.1.3. Information about Hospital 9

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3.1.4. Information about doctors 10

3.1.5. Diseases and its remedies 10

3.1.6. Ambulance 11

3.1.7. Information about medicine 11

3.1.8. Medicine Tracking 12

3.1.9. National and International Health News 12

3.2. E-commerce at HamroDoctor 13

3.2.1. Elements of E-commerce Website and Technology at HamroDoctor 13

3.2.1.1. Usability 13

3.2.1.2. Great content 14

3.2.1.3. User Friendly Navigation 15

3.2.1.4. Accessible via mobile devices 16

3.2.1.5. Social media Integration 17

3.2.1.6. Updated News 18

3.2.1.7. Information Density 19

3.2.1.8. Richness 19

3.2.1.9. Interactivity 19

3.2.1.10. Online Subscription 19

3.3. E-commerce Business Model at HamroDoctor 20

3.3.1. Value Proposition Model 20

3.3.2. Advertising Revenue Model 20

3.4. Marketing at HamroDoctor: Online and Offline 21

3.4.1. Online Marketing 21

3.4.1.1. Social Media Marketing 22

3.4.1.2. Email Marketing 23

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3.4.2. Offline Marketing 23

3.4.2.1. Publicity 23

3.5. Customer Trust and Traffic Rates 24

CHAPTER 4: OBJECTIVES OF STUDY ................................................................... 26

CHAPTER 5: PRESENTATION OF FACTS AND FIGURES ................................. 26

5.1. Online Survey via Google Form 26

5.2. Facts and Figure through Interview 39

5.2.1. General Information about HamroDoctor 40

5.2.2. Number of Doctors, Hospitals, Ambulance, and Pharmaceutics association


with HamroDoctor 40

5.2.3. Design of Website 41

5.2.3.1. Number of People Involved in Technical Support 41

5.2.3.2. Total Cost of Developing App and Website 41

5.2.4. Company Structure 42

5.2.5. Number of Unique Visitors per day 42

5.2.6. Number of online enquiry and appointment per month 42

5.2.7. Database of Medicine 43

5.2.8. Revenue and Expenses Analysis 43

CHAPTER 6: FINDINGS .............................................................................................. 45

6.1. Working Mechanism of HamroDoctor 45

6.2. Porters Five Forces Model 45

6.2.1. Threat of new entrance 46

6.2.2. Threat of Existing Firms 47

6.2.3. Bargaining Power of Supplier 47

6.2.4. Bargaining Power of Buyers 48

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6.2.5. Threat of Substitutes 48

6.3. SWOT Analysis of HamroDoctor 49

6.3.1. Strengths of HamroDoctor 49

6.3.2. Weaknesses of HamroDoctor 49

6.3.3. Opportunities of HamroDoctor 50

6.3.4. Challenges of HamroDoctor 50

CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................. 51

7.1. Conclusion 51

7.2. Recommendations 52

BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ A

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the study

Hamrodoctor.com is the first health news portal in Nepal that commenced its services with
both a website and a mobile application. With the rising health consciousness and
awareness among people, Hamrodoctor.com has emerged addressing the public
consciousness on health through online portals with an objective to enhance the health
conditions of people dispersed in different geographical location of the country. It has been
acquiring the rapt attention of people by maintaining a distinct style of presenting issues
and thus making it a first choice for people interested in health news.

The report was prepared to review some of the following aspects:

a. Opportunity of online health services in Nepal.


b. The relevance of online health portals.
c. The range of the services being provided by the service providers.
d. The kind of issues being addressed by them.
e. Contribution of online health facilities in the realm of health.

1.2. Introduction of Group Members


The project work has been assigned to every two members in a group. Our project entitled
Online Services at HamroDoctor is the joint effort of two group members. The group
consists of following members:

i. Rohan Byanjankar
ii. Nisha Thapa Magar

1.3. Concept of Online health facilities

Online health facilities refers to the health and the medical services offered through online
that encompasses the health related news and articles, online appointments and inquiry on
health related problems, health advices and recommendations via electronic medium,
database on doctors, hospitals, clinics, ambulance and blood donors profile among other
information on health institutes across the country. In the contemporary business world,

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online services are also experiencing spectacular growth especially in the realm of health.
With the swift development in technology, the application and demand of digital product
and services are increasingly growing. So, online health services are being preferred that
are facilitating people to address their health issues and reap multiple benefits by adopting
it.

1.4. Methodology of study

Our report is based on research. So, we have made rigorous and stringent efforts to collect
data from various sources so that our report will be more resourceful encompassing a wide
range of information, facts and figures. The information have been collected from both
primary and secondary sources. Direct interview and Questionnaire represent the primary
source of our data collection. Lots of data and information have been accumulated by face
to face interview with Mr. Ashok Raj Pandey with the help of questionnaire both structured
and unstructured. Similarly, primary data have also been collected with the help of online
Google form which also make significant contribution to our study. Data from the primary
source was not adequate to prepare entire report, so we also collected information by
visiting the website hamrodoctor.com which was, indeed, full of informative resources.
The website is imbued with lots of information regarding its services being offered to local
people which is vital for our study. Thus, information from both primary and secondary
sources have been accumulated to preserve the veracity of research report.

1.5. Limitations of the study

This report is a partial requirement of practical exam of E-commerce of BBA sixth


semester conducted by Tribhuwan University. The report has been prepared and submitted
within a prescribed time. Although we did our best, therere still some limitations.

They are:

a. The study has been prepared under the constraint of the limited time. Thus, detail
analytical study could not be conducted.
b. Online health facilities is an emerging concept in Nepalese context so, information
couldnt be collected from multiple sources due to lack of awareness.

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c. Some of the respondents were reluctant to provide their answers and information
due to lesser understanding and knowledge on online health portals.
d. The data and information have been collected from limited sources due to less
applicability in Nepal, so, depth analysis isnt possible.

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CHAPTER 2: HAMRODOCTOR: A SHORT
INTRODUCTION
2.1. Background of HamroDoctor
HamroDoctor is the first health news portal in Nepal that commenced its services with both
a website and a mobile application. HamroDoctor aim to produce in-depth health related
news and articles while also earnestly developing database on doctors, hospitals, clinics,
ambulance and blood donors profile among other information on health institutes across
the country. Initiated by health journalists and news enthusiasts, HamroDoctor maintains a
distinct style of presenting issues and thus making it a first choice for people interested in
health news.

The web portal has aimed at providing unabridged information regarding basic health of
people. There are about four thousand doctors, about hundred and fifty hospitals and the
clinics, associated with this online health portal, hundred and sixty four ambulances, and
fourteen hundred and seventy four blood donors are currently associated with
HamroDoctor. HamroDoctor facilitates the visitors with frequently updated news and
basically broadcasts the national and international health related news along with alert
messages for blazing health news. Also, the health website publishes the articles by some
of the reputed doctors so that the general people be get more information regarding health
problems, hygiene and other health circumstances. For instance: One of the articles at
HamroDoctor: 8 facts about Sinus (Pinas bare aath tathya) by Dr. Lalkishore Yadhav,
ENT specialist was published on 15th August 2016 (Monday), which provides invaluable
information to all the viewers regarding sinus disease.

2.2. Establishment of HamroDoctor

HamroDoctor is one of the pioneering online health website, also mobile application, in
Nepal that aims to kindle health awareness among all the Nepalese people. The online
health website is still young and was launched on 6th Chaitra 2072 (19th March 2016).
HamroDoctor is still in the developmental phase, so many changes are being made for the
convenience of visitors. Despite being new in the Nepalese market, HamroDoctor has

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gained significant attention of customers, hospitals, and doctors, which is the positive
signal for its success.

The development of HamroDoctor can be divided into two phases:

1. Pre-Startup phase
Pre-Startup phase includes the preliminary activities before establishment. The
website called for rigorous research on hospitals, clinics, doctors, medicines and
ambulances for more than one year. According to the chief editor of HamroDoctor,
Mr. Uddhav Raj Bhetuwal, It was difficult for us to make communication with
hospitals as they were not familiar with online health services, but eventually we
convinced them and obtained necessary information regarding doctors, diseases
and so on.
2. Startup Phase
Startup phase includes launching of website and mobile application on web. The
website and mobile application were launch on 6th Chaitra, 2072. Thus, the website
and mobile application has been successfully providing information and some
services since last six months. Currently, the daily unique visitors on website
reaches to six to seven thousand and daily unique visitors on mobile application
reaches to about twelve thousand.

2.3. Founders and other team members

HamroDoctor is one of the innovative project that has been launched to provide online
health services to Nepalese people. The concept of HamroDoctor is not based on creation
of single person; it is the result of innovative ideology of a numbers of people. The
founding members of HamroDoctor are as follows:

1. Madhu Sudan Dhakal


2. Uddhav Raj Bhetuwal
3. Ashok Raj Pandey
4. Ashok Basnet
5. Roshan Shrestha

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Team members of HamroDoctor are as follows:

Table 1: Team Members of HamroDoctor

Position/Field Name of person


Chief Editor Uddhav Raj Bhetuwal

General Manager Madhu Sudan Dhakal


Executive Editor Ashok Regmi
Asst. Editor Ashok Raj Pandey
Shiva Prasad Lamichhane
Administration Aisha Pariyar
Iva KC
Sub Editor Dinesh Lamichhane
Basu Neupane
Nabina Karki

Marketing Mon Kumar Katuwal


Rita Shrestha
Sushmita Acharya

Medical Bureau Dr. Yogesh Subedi


Purushottam Adhikari
Suman Acharya

Technical Assistance Ashok Basnet


Hem Kumar Shrestha
Yubaraj Poudel

Graphics Design Roshan Shrestha

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2.4. Objectives of HamroDoctor

HamroDoctor is the first health portal of Nepal that has aimed at making health services
accessible to every individual. The unabridged database of doctors, hospitals, ambulance
and so on have made HamroDoctor one of the reputed brands for doctors, patients,
hospitals, and government.

Some of the major objectives of HamroDoctor are as follows:

1. To generate public awareness among people


2. To provide updated health news and basically highlighting on burgeoning health
problem and infections.
3. To reduce queue in the hospital for ticket
4. To facilitate visitors by providing the facility of online appointment
5. To facilitate visitors by providing real time enquiry of health problems
6. To provide online doctor services even prescription of medicine
7. To make patient aware of medicine time through medicine tracking system
8. To maintain unabridged database of doctors, diseases, ambulances, blood donors,
hospitals, clinics, funeral vehicles and so on.

2.5. Realm of HamroDoctor

HamroDoctor is a health portal that has been established to provide health information to
Nepalese people at large. The realm of HamroDoctor is expanded over a large area that
covers almost all health sectors. The web portal predominantly provides national and
international health news and provides notification in mobile application in every minute.
It primarily works as the information provider and health awareness creator; also provides
cautious signals addressing widely spreading diseases such as scrab typhus. Moreover,
HamroDoctor provides information about Hospitals, Doctors, Diseases, Blood Donors,
Medicines, Ambulances, funeral vehicles and many other health services. The ambulance
and blood donors have been categorized on the basis of districts. Further, blood donors
have been categorized on the basis of blood group.

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CHAPTER 3: HAMRODOCTOR: ONLINE HEALTH
FACILITIES
3.1. Online Health Services at HamroDoctor

3.1.1. Online Medical Enquiry

HamroDoctor offers online medical enquiry facility without any cost. This is the free
service provided by HamroDoctor and is recently added feature. The medical enquiry can
be done through both website and mobile application. The enquiries are replied with few
minutes to half an hour depending upon the availability of doctors.

Figure 1: Online Enquiry at HamroDoctor

I am suffering from headache.

3.1.2. Online Doctor Appointment

HamroDoctor allows online doctor appointment through both website and mobile
application. The online doctor appointment is new concept in Nepal and is the newly added
feature in this website. The online appointment is first saved in server of HamroDoctor and
is transferred to the web server of hospital. Currently, the monthly online appointment is
about sixty to seventy per month. However, the online appointment facility is free.

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Figure 2: Free Online Hospital Appointment at HamroDoctor

3.1.3. Information about Hospital

HamroDoctor maintain a complete database of hospital across entire Nepal. It contain


overall information regarding the hospital. Customer or visitor can navigate through
different hospitals and can get phone number, location through Google map along with
shortest route from the point of visitors location, number of general beds, ICU beds, and
emergency beds, services rendered by the hospital, number of doctors and their time of
availability and many others.

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Figure 3: How information about hospital presented in HamroDoctor?

3.1.4. Information about doctors

There is an unabridged database of doctors with more than four thousands doctors currently
registered in HamroDoctor. The information of doctor is clearly given in the website and
application along with their specialization, and the name of hospital they are engaged in.
(http://www.HamroDoctor/doctors)

3.1.5. Diseases and its remedies

Diseases are common in the world, which makes people ill. Many people lose their life due
to lack of information regarding diseases, its symptoms, remedial measures or proper
medicine. HamroDoctor has made database of a list of diseases along with their symptoms,
causes, diagnosis, prevention, risk factor, complications, remedial measures and proper
medicine. Viewers can get these information on both website and mobile application.
(http://HamroDoctor/diseases)

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Figure 4: How information about disease presented in HamroDoctor?

3.1.6. Ambulance

Ambulance is one of the major requirement of every society. Many people are unaware of
ambulance contact number and many of the patients lose their life only because of
unavailability of timely ambulance services. HamroDoctor has eradicated this problem by
providing ambulance contact number along with a special feature to search ambulance
according to district. (http://www.HamroDoctor/ambulances)

3.1.7. Information about medicine

There are thousands of medical companies across the world. Many of Nepalese hospitals
and doctors prefer medicine manufactured by foreign Pharmaceuticals not due to superior
quality but to get extra commission. So, many Nepalese are beguiled by hospitals and
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doctors. HamroDoctor has made database of list of medicines along with the name of
Pharmaceuticals all across Nepal. Currently, there are twenty nine out of fifty
Pharmaceuticals in association HamroDoctor. (http://HamroDoctor/medicines)

3.1.8. Medicine Tracking

Medicine tracking is the new concept in Nepal and is newly introduced in HamroDoctor.
The medicine tracking system is only available in mobile application. Medicine tracking is
actually the medicine reminder that allows user to enter the name of medicine, name of
doctor who prescribed that medicine, medicine time (provision of multiple alarm in a day
according to time table of medicine), and Additional information (such as with water or
before meal or after meal or how much to consume)

Figure 5: Medicine Tracking System in HamroDoctor

3.1.9. National and International Health News

HamroDoctor is actually the online health portal that provides updated news to all the
viewers very frequently. The national and international health news are collected from
different journalists, newspapers, international news portals, and communicated by making
proper processing of the stored data.

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Figure 6: How frequently the news is updated in HamroDoctor?

3.2. E-commerce at HamroDoctor

HamroDoctor is currently a health news portal that is directed to provide real time
information regarding health issues, newly discovered diseases in the world and in Nepal,
and provide overall information regarding hospital, clinics, and other health references. E-
commerce at HamroDoctor is on the go. Although e-commerce is not still initiated at
HamroDoctor, its going to be in the realm of electronic commerce in very near future. All
the developmental strategy, database management, and services rendered are just
appropriate for initiating online health services.

3.2.1. Elements of E-commerce Website and Technology at HamroDoctor

3.2.1.1. Usability
HamroDoctor has made the website comfortable to the visitors. The visitors can easily go
to their interested fields or required information such as news, hospitals, doctors, medicine
and HD channel. Even a novice can get through the web portal without any difficulty. The
contents have been divided on the basis of field of interest such as sexual health, must see
news, latest news celebrity fitness, doctors diary, articles and patra patrika, which have
made this website easy to use for every individual.

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Figure 7: How easy is HamroDoctor to use?

3.2.1.2. Great content


The content development and placement is fabulous. The content placement has made the
site look beautiful, understandable, and easy to navigate. The homepage has been built with
all the necessary link which has been inbuilt in the form of primary menu. Visitors can easy
navigate through News, Hospitals, Doctor, Disease, Blood Donors, and Medicine. The
frequently updating of news has made it one of the best portals of Nepal.

Figure 8: Contents of HamroDoctor

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3.2.1.3. User Friendly Navigation
Navigation is the most essential feature of any website. As HamroDoctor is going in for e-
commerce in near future, user friendly navigation is the utmost requirement. There are
large number of hospitals, clinics, blood donors and ambulance in the database of
HamroDoctor and without proper navigation and search, the visitor get lost and this
problem has been clearly managed in the website by imbuing search widget in each pages.

Figure 9: Easy Navigation at HamroDoctor

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3.2.1.4. Accessible via mobile devices
HamroDoctor is accessible through mobile devices. The mobile application is used more
than the website. Both the website and mobile application were launched on the same date.
Moreover the website itself can be easily viewed through mobile devices, that is, the
website is mobile compatible. The mobile application is currently available for android
devices and will be available for iOS devices from 1st Bhadra 2073.

Figure 10: Android Mobile Application of HamroDoctor

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3.2.1.5. Social media Integration
HamroDoctor has an active participation in social media platform such as Facebook,
twitter, and also has separate video channel in YouTube. Under customer care, it has also
added some of the links of social media such as Facebook, Google+ and twitter.

Figure 11: Facebook Page of HamroDoctor

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3.2.1.6. Updated News
One of the major features of HamroDoctor is frequently updating of news. They broadcast
and send mobile notification for updated news within two minutes. The news broadcasted
by the web portal is related to health, however, it broadcasts in a significant speed, accuracy
and persistency.

Figure 12: News Update at HamroDoctor

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3.2.1.7. Information Density
HamroDoctor is full of information regarding doctors, hospitals, diseases, and many other
health related information. Information density refers to quality and quantity of information
that is available in the website and that information is accessible by visitors. HamroDoctor
collects information from newspapers, self-hired journalists and so on, stores data in
database, processes the data and communicate the information.

3.2.1.8. Richness
Richness refers to the degree of usefulness of information provided by any website. Having
more content is not sufficient, the content must be useful, updated, and ubiquitous. The
richness of the content depends upon its relevance with the daily life of people. The
information by HamroDoctor is rich in the sense that the information are very useful and
creates awareness in viewers. Such as: Prime Minister, Puspa Kamal Dahal, directs to stop
doctor with fake certificate from medical practice was broadcasted on 15th August 2016,
which creates awareness in general public regarding fake medical certificates.

3.2.1.9. Interactivity
HamroDoctor is very interactive. Visitors can make online enquiry regarding the problems
they are facing. Also, visitors can make online appointment in different hospitals through
this application and website. But, to use services of online enquiry and online appointment,
visitors must compulsorily log in using their Google Account or Facebook Account. The
reply for the enquiry is provided within few minutes to hours depending upon the
availability of doctors. The services of online enquiry and online appointment is free.

3.2.1.10. Online Subscription


HamroDoctor allows customers or visitors to make online subscription to receive latest
health news and the magazines published bimonthly. The online magazine is published on
every fifteen days, and customers can get the online magazines in their email if they have
subscribed.

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Figure 13: Online Subscription at HamroDoctor

3.3. E-commerce Business Model at HamroDoctor

Business model refers to the set of planned activities designed to result in a profit in a
marketplace. E-commerce business model is the business model that aims use and leverage
the unique qualities of the internet, the web and the mobile platform.

HamroDoctor has basically applied two business model. They are:

3.3.1. Value Proposition Model

Value proposition defines how the companys products or services fulfill the need of
customers. To better analyze the value proposition, the company must understand why
customer will choose to do business with the firm. Similarly, HamroDoctor is also making
minute analysis of requirement of Nepalese people and correlating it with health services.
Currently, it is developing customer base and trust, and attracting as many visitors as it can.
Currently it is in process of creating its separate brand name and trying to fulfill the need
of customers. At present, it is providing free services to customers such as free online health
related enquiry (reference to Figure 2), and free online appointment (reference to Figure 3)

3.3.2. Advertising Revenue Model

The company that follows advertising revenue model offers content, services and/or
product also provides a forum from advertisement and receives fees from advertisers.
HamroDoctor has no other significant revenue sources. The primary source of revenue of
this website is advertisement. The revenue from advertisement amount to about one lakh

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fifty thousand to two lakhs per month on average. However, the advertisement on this
website is basically related to health, medicine, aayurvedic medicine and so on.

Figure 14: Advertisement on website of HamroDoctor

3.4. Marketing at HamroDoctor: Online and Offline

3.4.1. Online Marketing

Internet marketing, or online marketing, refers to advertising and marketing efforts that use
the Web and email to drive direct sales via electronic commerce, in addition to sales leads
from Web sites or emails. (Retrieved from
www.webopedia.com/TERM/I/internet_marketing.html).

Thus, online marketing is the newly emerged concept in the domain of marketing. The
concept of online marketing has emerged with the development of cloud computing and
increasingly growing use of online portals such as Google and social media sites such as
Facebook have instigated in flourishing the online marketing.

21
3.4.1.1. Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing refers to the process of gaining traffic or attention through social
media sites. Social media itself is a catch-all term for sites that may provide radically
different social actions. For instance, Twitter is a social site designed to let people share
short messages or updates with others. (Retrieved from
www.searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-social-media-marketing)

Thus, social media marketing can be defined as the process of conducting marketing
activities through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest in order to
gain more traffic and to increase conversion rate.

3.4.1.1.1. Online Marketing through Facebook

Facebook is the social media powerhouse. Facebook plays as the community provider and
many businesses have initiated their business by establishing their business page or fan
page. There are more than one billion active users in Facebook which makes it, the social
media powerhouse. The conversion rate of Facebook is 1.85 percent, which is the highest
of all social networking site. HamroDoctor has also established its own business page in
the Facebook. The HamroDoctor Facebook page has about sixth thousand likes as per
August 17, 2016. Visitor can directly go to website of HamroDoctor from the Facebook
page itself. The news updates are also broadcasted in its Facebook page.
(https://www.facebook.com/HamroDoctorService/)

3.4.1.1.2. Online Marketing through Twitter

Twitter is one of the famous social media site. Twitter plays as the community provider
and it acts as the SMS of internet. Every business has their presence on twitter. Twitter has
the conversion rate of twitter is 0.77 percent. HamroDoctor has its presence in Twitter and
has three hundred and twenty seven followers and has about two thousand and eight
hundred tweets as of August 17, 2016. (https://twitter.com/hamrodoctor?lang=en)

3.4.1.1.3. Online Marketing through YouTube

YouTube is the video sharing site, which was owned by Google in 2006 with $1.65 billion.
YouTube channel is the medium to make viewers aware of the brand, person, idea or

22
anything about the creation. HamroDoctor has also created separate channel in YouTube
which streams only health related news and videos.
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLZb_j-j_ohPBmlzbbmbsmg)

3.4.1.2. Email Marketing


Email Marketing is the process of marketing through emailing the information about the
product or services or news or any other idea to the inbox of the potential customer.
Research has verdict that email marketing has ROI of 4300 percent. Email marketing used
to be one of the most preferred online marketing techniques about five years ago, but now
due to increasingly growing social networking sites, the usage of email marketing is in the
decreasing trend.

HamroDoctor has also used email marketing technique and visitors are allowed to
subscribe to HamroDoctors newsletter to get regular news updates. Thus, email marketing
at HamroDoctor is on the go.

3.4.2. Offline Marketing

Offline marketing is the traditional marketing technique that uses TV, radio, newspaper
and so on as the means of communication. It does not use online medium for marketing.
The offline marketing includes advertisement in radio, TV, hoarding board and newspaper,
public relation (publicity) and so on.

HamroDoctor has not advertised it brand and product or services in any newspaper or
magazines or journals. Thus, there is no advertisement till date. However, it has gain wide
publicity among the media, which has created a good public relation among the media and
public.

3.4.2.1. Publicity
Publicity means the notice or attention given to someone or something by the media.
HamroDoctor has been publicized by media since its commencement. On the first day of
commencement, Karobar, the leading daily business newspaper, published about
HamroDoctor App and claimed it as the hit app of 2016. Google Store has also placed
HamroDoctor App as the top free app, and top trending app.

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Figure 15: Publicity of HamroDoctor by Karobar Business Newspaper

3.5. Customer Trust and Traffic Rates

Customer trust refers to the degree to which customers believe in the information or
services or products provided by the company. Customer trust is the base for value
proposition. Customer loyalty is the outcome of customers trust towards the brand.

In case of websites or mobile application, traffic rate refers the amount of data sent and
received by visitor to a website. The traffic rate is determined by the number of unique
visitor per day or per month. The more number of visitors, the more traffic rates.

HamroDoctor has an estimated unique visitor ranging to six to seven thousand a day in
website and twelve thousand unique visitor per day in mobile application. Thus, the traffic
rate of HamroDoctor is increasing in an increasing rate.

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Table 2: Growing Visitors and their trust at HamroDoctor

Visitor in Website 6000 7000 per day


Visitors in Mobile Application 12000 per day (approximately)
Number of Enquiry 150 200 per month
Number of Appointments 60 70 per month

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CHAPTER 4: OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
Some of the major objectives of study are listed below:

1. To create awareness among people on how health services can be taken and enhanced
through online health facilities.
2. To convey the message to the people at the national level regarding the benefits of
online health services,
3. To analyze strength, weakness, opportunity and threat of online health firms in
Nepalese market.
4. To extract out information regarding current status of online health services
5. To trace out customer credibility towards online health services in Nepal.

CHAPTER 5: PRESENTATION OF FACTS AND FIGURES


5.1. Online Survey via Google Form
The online survey has been done via Google Form in order to get hold of contemporary
status of online health facilities in Nepal. The online form has twenty question and about
fifteen questions are related to online health services. The form has been filled up by forty
five individuals, thus our sample size is forty five.

The questionnaire asked in the online form along with their summarized result have been
presented below in table and chart respectively.

1. How often do you use internet (daily)?

Table 3: Online Survey: How often do you use internet (daily)?

Time Responses Percentage


up to 1 hour 17 37%
2 - 5 hours 21 45.7%
5 - 10 hours 6 13%
10 - 15 hours 0 0%
Not interested 2 4.3%
Other 0 0%

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Figure 16: Online Survey: How often do you use internet (daily)?

2. How do you access to internet?

Table 4: Online Survey: How do you access to internet?

Medium of Connectivity Responders choice Percentage


Wi-Fi 33 71.7%
Mobile Data 14 30.4%
Cable Internet 2 4.3%
ADSL 7 15.2%
All of above 4 8.7%
None of above 1 2.2%

Figure 17: Online Survey: How do you access to internet?

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\

3. How often do you take medical services online?

Table 5: Online Survey: How often do you take medical services online?

Choice Respondents Choice Percentage


Frequently 0 0%
Sometimes 10 21.7%
Rarely 12 26.1%
Not experienced yet 22 47.8%
Not interested 2 4.3%
Other 0 0%

Figure 18: Online Survey: How often do you take medical services online?

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4. Have you ever searched remedies of health problems in internet?

Figure 19: Online Survey: Have you ever searched remedies of health problems in
internet?

5. Do you find health related information in the internet useful?

Table 6: Online Survey: Do you find health related information in the internet
useful?

Choice Respondents Response Percentage


useful 14 30.4%
Satisfactory 18 39.1%
Not relevant 9 19.6%
Not experienced yet 4 8.7%

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Not interested 1 2.2%
Other 0 0%

Figure 20: Online Survey: Do you find health related information in the internet
useful?

6. Are you interested in health related news?

Table 7: Online Survey: Are you interested in health related news?

Choice Respondents Response Percentage


Not at All: 1 4 8.7%
2 6 13%
3 8 17.4%
4 18 39.1%
Very Much: 5 10 21.7%

Figure 21: Online Survey: Are you interested in health related news?

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7. Do you believe in information by health websites?

Table 8: Online Survey: Do you believe in information by health websites?

Choice Respondents Response Percentage


Not at all: 1 3 6.5%
2 4 8.7%
3 22 47.8%
4 13 28.3%
Very much: 5 4 8.7%

Figure 22: Online Survey: Do you believe in information by health websites?

8. How often do you view Facebook pages related to health?

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Table 9: Online Survey: How often do you view Facebook pages related to health?

Choice Respondents Response Percentage


Rarely: 1 17 37%
2 7 15.2%
3 10 21.7%
4 9 19.6%
Frequently: 5 3 6.5%

Figure 23: Online Survey: How often do you view Facebook pages related to
health?

9. Have you subscribed any health portals or health websites?

Table 10: Online Survey: Have you subscribed any health portals or health
websites?

Choice Respondents Choice Percentage


Yes 12 26.1%
No 18 39.1%
No idea 6 13%
Not experienced yet 10 21.7%
Not interested 0 0%
Other 0 0%
Figure 24: Online Survey: Have you subscribed any health portals or health
websites?

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10. What technique do you use to remember your medicine time?

Table 11: Online Survey: What technique do you use to remember your medicine
time?

Choice Respondents Choice Percentage


Mobile Alert 7 15.2%
Reminded by others 4 8.7%
Often not in time 3 6.5%
Self-Reminded 32 69.6%
Other 0 0%

Figure 25: Online Survey: What technique do you use to remember your medicine
time?

11. Have you ever used any health related websites?

Figure 26: Online Survey: Have you ever used any health related websites?
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12. What is the name of health website you have used? (if any)
a. Health Digest
b. Mind-body-green
c. Dentistry online
13. Have you ever used any health related mobile app?

Figure 27: Online Survey: Have you ever used any health related mobile app?

14. What is the name of health related mobile app you have used? (if any)
a. Your MD b. Medscape c. Learn Dentistry d. Prognosis
15. Do you think online health mobile application helpful?

Table 12: Online Survey: Do you think online health mobile application helpful?

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Choice Respondents Response Percentage
Yes 26 56.5%
No 2 4.3%
No idea 18 39.1%

Figure 28: Online Survey: Do you think online health mobile application helpful?

16. What services do you expect from mobile health application?

Table 13: Online Survey: What services do you expect from mobile health
application?

Choice Respondents Response Percentage


Hospital Information 5 10.9%
Doctor Information 5 10.9%
Ambulance information 0 0%
Medicine 6 13%
Medicine reminder 0 0%
Above all 34 73.9%

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Figure 29: Online Survey: What services do you expect from mobile health
application?

17. Which one do you prefer?

Table 14: Online Survey: Which one do you prefer mobile app or website or both
or none?

Choice Respondents Response Percentage


Mobile App 16 34.8%
Website 5 10.9%
Both 23 50%
None 2 4.3%

Figure 30: Online Survey: Which one do you prefer mobile app or website or both
or none?

36
18. Your Age

Table 15: Online Survey: Age of Respondents.

Age Range Respondents Age Percentage


Below 10 0 0%
10 - 20 17 37%
20 - 30 26 56.5%
30 - 40 0 0%
40 - 50 0 0%
50 - 60 1 2.2%
60 above 0 0%
Other 2 4.3%

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Figure 31: Online Survey: Age of Respondents.

19. Your Gender

Table 16: Online Survey: Respondent's Gender

Gender Respondents Gender Percentage


Male 18 39.1%
Female 28 60.9%

Figure 32: Online Survey: Respondent's Gender

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20. Your Education

Table 17: Online Survey: Education of Respondent

Education Respondents Education Percentage


SLC 2 4.3%
Intermediate 10 21.7%
Bachelor's 31 67.4%
Master's 2 4.3%
M. Phil 1 2.2%

Figure 33: Online Survey: Education of Respondent

5.2. Facts and Figure through Interview

The facts and figure that has been presented below is based on the interview with one of
the staffs of HamroDoctor. The facts and figures presented below are completely based on
the information provided by the interviewee.

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5.2.1. General Information about HamroDoctor

Table 18: General Information about HamroDoctor

Name of Organization HamroDoctor


Domain Name http://www.HamroDoctor
Preliminary activities One year Research
Date of commencement 6th Chaitra 2072 (19th March 2016)
Location of Organization Anamnagar, (Opposite of Singhdarbar, Eastern
Gate)
Number of Team Members 20
Information Collection Journalist, News Team, Hospital coordination
Source of Revenue Advertisement
Services Provided Health News, online Appointment, online enquiry
Information available in portal Information about hospital, doctor, medicine,
disease, blood donors

5.2.2. Number of Doctors, Hospitals, Ambulance, and Pharmaceutics


association with HamroDoctor

Table 19: Number of Doctors, Hospitals, and Ambulance associated with HamroDoctor

Associates Number
Doctors 3972
Hospitals 150
Clinics 158
Ambulances 164
Blood Donors 1477
Pharmaceutics 29

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5.2.3. Design of Website

This section deals with: How the website has been designed? How many website designer
have contributed their effort? What is the tentative investment on designing the website?

5.2.3.1. Number of People Involved in Technical Support


Table 20: Number of People Involved in Technical Support

Website Designed by 1 person


Website Development (A) 2 person
Android App Developer (D) 1 person
iOS App Developer (E) 1 person
Script used in developing website PHP

5.2.3.2. Total Cost of Developing App and Website


Table 21: Total Cost of Developing App and Website

Website Design [V] Rs. 20000


Website Development Period (B) 6 months
Salary to designers (C) Rs. 30000 per month
Total Development Cost (A*B*C) [W] Rs. 360000
Salary to Android App Development (F) Rs. 40000 per month
Android App Development period (G) 6 months
Total Cost of Android App (D*F*G) [X] Rs. 240000
Salary to iOS App Development (H) Rs. 60000 per month
iOS App Development period (I) 3 months
Total Cost of Android App (E*H*I) [Y] Rs. 180000
Server Cost [6 months * 2000] [Z] Rs 12000
Total Investment [V+W+X+Y+Z] 812000

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5.2.4. Company Structure

HamroDoctor is the online web-portal that has been established by joint effort of two
companies: Utkrista Media Pvt. Ltd. and Mantra Ideas Pvt. Ltd.

Figure 34: Company Structure of HamroDoctor

5.2.5. Number of Unique Visitors per day

Table 22: Number of Unique Visitors per day

Platform Number
Website 6000 7000
Mobile Application 12000 per day
App Downloads (Google Play) 10000

5.2.6. Number of online enquiry and appointment per month

Table 23: Number of online enquiry and appointment per month

Services Users/Month
Enquiry 150 200
Appointment 60 70

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5.2.7. Database of Medicine

Table 24: Items in Database of Medicine

Medicine Items
Generic Medicine 1558
Brand Medicines 2445

Note: Generic medicine refers to general term used to describe the nature of medicine.
Brand Medicine refers to the specific medicine that we consume. Such as: Paracetamol is
a generic medicine, whereas Floxon is Brand Medicine.

5.2.8. Revenue and Expenses Analysis

The HamroDoctor is the web portal and is going in for e-commerce very soon. Currently,
it is providing all its services free of cost. The services of online medical enquiry, and
online appointment to hospital are currently free of cost. The major revenue source is
advertisement. Currently, the organization is in break-even point.

Table 25: Revenue and Expenses Analysis

Revenue (Monthly) Amount


Advertisement revenue Rs. 175000*
Other incomes Rs. 20000
Total Revenue Rs 195000
Expenditures
Fixed Expenses
Total Investment [Table 21] [A] 812000
Other fixed expenses [B] 200000
Total Fixed Expenses [A+B] 1012000
Variable Expenses (Monthly)
Salary (Rs. 20000 per person per month) Rs 140000
Office Expenses Rs. 30000
Other Expenses Rs. 20000

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Total Variable Expenses Rs. 190000
*Note: The revenue from advertisement per month ranges from one lakh fifty thousand to
two lakhs (150000 to 200000), so average advertisement revenue has been taken.

Since, variable cost or expenses has been covered i.e. Revenue greater than Variable
Expenses, so the organization can easily sustain as fixed cost can be covered in long run.

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CHAPTER 6: FINDINGS
6.1. Working Mechanism of HamroDoctor

HamroDoctor acts as the information provider and provides online services related to
health such as online enquiry and online appointment. The database of HamroDoctor acts
as the information powerhouse for any search done by visitor on HamroDoctor.
HamroDoctor is linked with hospital server, and doctors through email address. The blood
donors and ambulance are connected to HamroDoctor through contact number, and email
address. Customers can directly make a call to ambulance or blood donor from
HamroDoctor mobile app. HamroDoctor provides unabridged information about the
hospital and customers can get all the information about the hospital stored in database of
HamroDoctor. Mobile app of HamroDoctor is more easy to use than the website.

Figure 35: The working mechanism of HamroDoctor

Hospital
HamroDoctor
Doctor Customers
(Website or
Mobile App)
Blood Donor

Ambulance Customer Request

Information transmission from HamroDoctor

HamroDoctor acts as the mediator and the information provider. It transmits customer
health enquiry to doctor and replies back to customer. Similarly, it transmits online
appointment to hospital and replies back to customer.

6.2. Porters Five Forces Model

Competitive forces model has been developed by Michael E. Porter who is currently the
professor of Economics at Harvard University, US. Alongside competitive forces model,
he developed Porters diamond model of International Trade which is equally famous.

45
6.2.1. Threat of new entrant

Threat of new entrants refers to the situation of being more competitive in future. It is the
act of generating new competitors in the future. HamroDoctor has brought about relatively
new concept of providing health services to its customers. Presently, there is no
competition at the national level as it is new concept in Nepal, however, in future there is
a threat of new entrant.

Figure 36: Porter's Five Forces Model

Threat of new entrants

Bargaining power of Bargaining power of


Porters Five
Buyers Suppliers
Forces Model

Threat of Substitutes Threat of existing firms

The threat of new entrance is strong due to following reasons:

a. Level of fixed cost


The level of fixed cost required is quite low. The overall fixed cost during startup
might amount not more than fifteen lakhs rupees. Thus, there is high threat of new
entrance due to relatively low fixed cost if this sector grows.
b. Barriers to entry
Nepalese market is governed by mix economic system. So, there is no barriers to
entry from the side of government, which propels other firms to emerge in the
market.
c. Capital Requirements
Capital requirement refers to the amount of fixed amount that company should own
such as computer, furniture, machinery, land, building and so on. Generally, virtual

46
companies requires less capital expenditure as it can operate in small space with
few number of staffs.

6.2.2. Threat of Existing Firms

The existing firms are the current competitors. They have rigorous competition and in
monopolistic competition, the firm compete through price called price wars and in
oligopolistic competition, they compete through promotion, quality but not with price.
HamroDoctor has come up with completely new concept, so currently there is no
competition in the market, which is its one of the greatest strength. Its database contains
thousands of information regarding doctors, hospitals and other health related information
which is valuable to government too. HamroDoctor is enjoying the position of The First
Mover.

6.2.3. Bargaining Power of Supplier

The industry is attractive when bargaining power of supplier is less. The more bargaining
power of suppliers, the less will be the profit and less the attractiveness of firm/industry.
HamroDoctor is enjoying the position of first mover, so there is no competition in the
market yet. Thus, it has full control over suppliers as it is single firm in the market that
renders such services.

Bargaining power of supplier is less due to following reasons:

a. Supplier Concentration
Supplier Concentration refers to the situation where there is one supplier for large
number of buyers or procuring organization. But the case is reverse, HamroDoctor is
standing alone till date and many other suppliers such as hospitals, doctors etc. are more
in number.
b. Availability of alternatives
HamroDoctor is the disruptive concept. HamroDoctor is actually an innovative startup
that few people only had thought about. Thus, there is no availability of substitutes.
Hence, the bargaining power of supplier is less.
c. Threat of forward integration

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Threat of forward integration occurs when supplier of the firm, HamroDoctor, starts to
produce goods or render services that is being providing by the firm, HamroDoctor.
There is high threat of forward integration hospitals can also provide the service of
online enquiry and online appointment which is being provided by HamroDoctor.

6.2.4. Bargaining Power of Buyers

The industry is attractive when bargaining power of buyer is less. The more bargaining
power of buyer, the less will be the profit and less the attractiveness of firm/industry.
HamroDoctor is enjoying the position of first mover, so there is no significant competition
in the market yet. Thus, it is just playing the role of firm with monopoly power, however,
the concept adopted by HamroDoctor is very new from Nepalese market, so it has not been
able to grab monopoly.

Bargaining power of buyers is less due to following reasons:

a. Buyer Concentration

Buyer concentration refers to the situation when there is one buyer for large number of
seller. In case of HamroDoctor, there are large number of customer and single service
provider in the market in current scenario. Hence, it could gain significant market share
in short period of time.

b. Switching cost

Switching cost refers to any impediments to customers while changing supplier.


Switching cost occurs when shifting from one service provider to other. But there is no
competition yet in the market in present scenario, so there is no availability of alternatives.

6.2.5. Threat of Substitutes

There is intense threat of substitutes in the growing market. Sometimes, the new firms
might crate similar product or render similar services that creates threat to existing
company or firm. There is also extreme threat of substitutes to HamroDoctor as it renders
some basic services such as online enquiry and online appointment, which can also be
provided by Hospital itself.

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6.3. SWOT Analysis of HamroDoctor

SWOT analysis refers to the intensive environmental scanning that extracts out strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats of an organization. HamroDoctor is a firm with a
very innovative concept of providing online health services. The environmental scanning
of HamroDoctor has been done with veracity. Thus, the strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats of HamroDoctor have been presented below.

6.3.1. Strengths of HamroDoctor


Strength refers to the internal beneficial quality or attribute of a firm that provides
competitive advantage to a firm. There are many strengths of HamroDoctor that has
been enlisted as follows:

a. HamroDoctor is the First Mover in the sector of online health services.


b. The customer trust is growing as the daily visitor is increasingly growing.
c. HamroDoctor has a specialized team of editors, marketing personnel,
administrators, and IT personnel.
d. The extensive database of doctors, hospital, clinics and so on are its most valuable
asset.
e. HamroDoctor has both website and app and broadcasts news in every few minutes.
f. HamroDoctor provides real time response to enquiry and provision of online
appointment.

6.3.2. Weaknesses of HamroDoctor

Weakness refers to the internal disadvantageous quality or attribute of a firm that poses
competitive disadvantage to a firm. There are some of the weaknesses of HamroDoctor
that has been enlisted as follows:

a. It is new in the market, so customer are not credible towards it.


b. The staffs are not very experienced as they are new to this field.
c. Hospitals do not generally believe in online services and they even do not envisage
of rendering health services through online.
d. It is providing free services to all the customers; despite this fact customers rarely
make free online appointment and online enquiry.

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6.3.3. Opportunities of HamroDoctor

Opportunities refer to future prospects of growth or it is the situation where a firm can
offers its goods or services to the market at higher price than its cost of production.

Some of the major opportunities of HamroDoctor are as follows:

a. The growing consciousness of people towards health and awareness towards the
digital services,
b. Increasing preference of people towards hamrodoctor.com due to the range of the
services offered by it,
c. Growing use of online services due to hectic lifestyle of people,
d. Peoples access to internet and use of high end digital devices,
e. Expansion of digital knowledge and its benefits,
f. Increasingly growing number of website visitors and applications,
g. Preference of people towards the digital services with the technological
advancement

6.3.4. Challenges of HamroDoctor

Challenges refer to future obstacles that pose threat to the growth and existence of firm.
They are the factors that have negative impact on the growth and existence of the firm.

Some of the major challenges of HamroDoctor are as follows:

a. Lack of access to digital devices and knowledge


b. More concerned to educated people only due to digital illiteracy
c. Not accessible to remote places due to lack of infrastructural development
d. Adherence to culture of preferring the physical services rather than digital
e. Lack of digital trust and confidence built among people
f. Language problem is prevalent and is mostly understood by the people related to
medical field only
g. Peoples inconvenience and sometimes poor understanding of subject matter due
to lack of direct interaction
h. Users of online health services concentrated to some major city areas.

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CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
7.1. Conclusion

The knowledge and experience we acquired through this research has really edified us. The
visit to the office of Hamrodoctor.com was to get hold of information regarding the
practices of online health facilities being implemented in our country. We got plenty of
information about the range of services offered by the online health portal,
hamrodoctor.com. More specially, it helped us to develop a conceptual framework making
us aware about the effective use of internet in getting health services. The lack of
infrastructural development and geographical remoteness has hindered the nation to
flourish the knowledge and extensive application of online health services in Nepal.
However, many of the people having access to the infrastructure can be more benefited
taking the services being offered by such platforms. Indeed, the efforts made by
hamrodoctor.com is really admirable that has been actively working to enhance health
sector and this single site is imbued with abundant information and services which is
relevant to different groups of people.

There are opportunities everywhere around us; only we need is to train our eyes to see those
opportunities. So, in this age of technology, through online platform we can share our
knowledge and understanding which could reach to thousands of people who are in need
by best utilizing the resources we have. We also found that, the management team in
hamrodoctor.com has been filled with some of the students who are pursuing their
education as well as contributing their skills and knowledge in the related field which
conveys us a message that learning isnt something merely confined to books but has a
wider applicability.

Like a thousand miles begins with a single step the development of emerging online health
services in Nepal could be a milestone for our nation to gear up the pace of health services
for making a healthy people and a healthy nation.

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7.2. Recommendations

After making study of Hamrodoctor.com and its SWOT analysis, some of the
recommendations are as follows:

1. Hamrodoctor.com has the potential to grab many health service seekers, so, it
should use different emerging advertisement paradigms to different group of
people to reach customers even outside the valley.
2. Hamrodoctor.com should introduce the provision of telemedicine in its services to
serve the people of geographically far locations.
3. Hamrodoctor.com can develop some special provisions for remote clinical
services.
4. Hamrodoctor.com should create awareness among the people having some digital
knowledge and access but no idea on the use and benefits of online health services
through different mediums.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
HamroDoctor. (2016). About Us. Retrieved from HamroDoctor:
http://www.hamrodoctor.com/aboutus

HamroDoctor. (2016). Diseases. Retrieved from HamroDoctor:


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