Steve Thomas - IT Consultant
Alan’s meteoric rise in the French tech ecosystem has been both figurative and literal. A few years ago, the startup’s office was limited to one floor in a nondescript office building near the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris. Over time, the company added another floor, then another floor… Now, the company of 550 employees also occupies […]
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The worlds of technology and healthcare are colliding like never before, and telemedicine is leading the charge. This article breaks down how telemedicine is changing the game by combining modern tech with traditional doctor visits — imagine virtual checkups, remote monitoring, and doctors who can talk to each other easily, all through a screen. We’ll explore how these changes are transforming how doctors and patients interact, making healthcare more convenient, effective, and focused on what matters most: patient care.
Telemedicine leverages technology to provide healthcare services remotely. This can include a variety of methods, such as video consultations, remote monitoring, and electronic communication.
With telemedicine, patients can book virtual appointments with doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals via video conferencing platforms. Healthcare professionals, on the other hand, may utilize technology to diagnose and manage certain medical conditions without the need for an in-person visit. Wearable devices or sensors to track vital signs and other health data from a distance may also be used.
Telemedicine offers a range of benefits, including:
Heightened efficiency
Telemedicine helps streamline healthcare processes. It dismantles the cumbersome administrative procedures that often lead to delays in appointments and test results, fostering a more efficient and patient-focused approach. The integration of technology also optimizes workflows, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and enhancing the overall healthcare experience.
Digital reinvention of doctor-patient dynamics
With telemedicine, the physical barriers that might hinder communication are eliminated, allowing patients to engage with healthcare professionals in a more open and transparent manner. This shift toward digital interactions not only enhances accessibility but cultivates a sense of empowerment among patients, resulting in a more collaborative approach to healthcare.
Specialized care and interdisciplinary collaboration
Telemedicine breaks down physical boundaries, opening doors to specialized care and building bridges between professionals. This interdisciplinary collaboration allows experts from various domains to collectively contribute to a patient’s well-being, even if they are miles apart. This opens avenues for knowledge exchange and continuous improvement within the healthcare sector, all while improving patient care.
Proactive healthcare and preventive measures
By utilizing telemedicine for early detection and continuous monitoring, individuals can manage their health proactively. Wearable devices and mobile applications become indispensable tools in this journey, encouraging a culture of wellness and prevention rather than solely focusing on illness treatment.
Overall cost-effectiveness
Telemedicine proves to be highly cost-effective in several ways. It reduces operational expenses for healthcare providers, minimizes patient travel costs, and enables preventive interventions that mitigate the progression of chronic conditions, helping patients avert more expensive treatments.
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, telemedicine stands out as a dynamic and inclusive solution, enabling healthcare professionals to be more attuned to the diverse needs of their patients.
For more updates on IT developments in various fields, subscribe to our newsletter.
Imagine healthcare without walls or waiting rooms. Telemedicine is making this a reality. This article explores how virtual doctor visits and remote monitoring are changing the game. Think faster diagnoses, easier chronic care, and mental health support, all accessible from the comfort of your home. We’ll dive into the different ways telemedicine can bring healthcare closer to everyone, making it more efficient and putting patients back in control.
Telemedicine leverages technology to provide healthcare services remotely. This can include a variety of methods, such as video consultations, remote monitoring, and electronic communication.
With telemedicine, patients can book virtual appointments with doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals via video conferencing platforms. Healthcare professionals, on the other hand, may utilize technology to diagnose and manage certain medical conditions without the need for an in-person visit. Wearable devices or sensors to track vital signs and other health data from a distance may also be used.
Telemedicine offers a range of benefits, including:
Heightened efficiency
Telemedicine helps streamline healthcare processes. It dismantles the cumbersome administrative procedures that often lead to delays in appointments and test results, fostering a more efficient and patient-focused approach. The integration of technology also optimizes workflows, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and enhancing the overall healthcare experience.
Digital reinvention of doctor-patient dynamics
With telemedicine, the physical barriers that might hinder communication are eliminated, allowing patients to engage with healthcare professionals in a more open and transparent manner. This shift toward digital interactions not only enhances accessibility but cultivates a sense of empowerment among patients, resulting in a more collaborative approach to healthcare.
Specialized care and interdisciplinary collaboration
Telemedicine breaks down physical boundaries, opening doors to specialized care and building bridges between professionals. This interdisciplinary collaboration allows experts from various domains to collectively contribute to a patient’s well-being, even if they are miles apart. This opens avenues for knowledge exchange and continuous improvement within the healthcare sector, all while improving patient care.
Proactive healthcare and preventive measures
By utilizing telemedicine for early detection and continuous monitoring, individuals can manage their health proactively. Wearable devices and mobile applications become indispensable tools in this journey, encouraging a culture of wellness and prevention rather than solely focusing on illness treatment.
Overall cost-effectiveness
Telemedicine proves to be highly cost-effective in several ways. It reduces operational expenses for healthcare providers, minimizes patient travel costs, and enables preventive interventions that mitigate the progression of chronic conditions, helping patients avert more expensive treatments.
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, telemedicine stands out as a dynamic and inclusive solution, enabling healthcare professionals to be more attuned to the diverse needs of their patients.
For more updates on IT developments in various fields, subscribe to our newsletter.
Telemedicine has completely changed how healthcare professionals care for patients, becoming a driving force in the modern healthcare landscape. This article dives deep into the powerful impact of telemedicine, unpacking its many benefits that open the door to a new era of healthcare that’s easier to reach and more efficient. By exploring this topic, you’ll discover how technology is necessary to healthcare, offering advantages for patients and professionals alike.
Telemedicine leverages technology to provide healthcare services remotely. This can include a variety of methods, such as video consultations, remote monitoring, and electronic communication.
With telemedicine, patients can book virtual appointments with doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals via video conferencing platforms. Healthcare professionals, on the other hand, may utilize technology to diagnose and manage certain medical conditions without the need for an in-person visit. Wearable devices or sensors to track vital signs and other health data from a distance may also be used.
Telemedicine offers a range of benefits, including:
Heightened efficiency
Telemedicine helps streamline healthcare processes. It dismantles the cumbersome administrative procedures that often lead to delays in appointments and test results, fostering a more efficient and patient-focused approach. The integration of technology also optimizes workflows, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and enhancing the overall healthcare experience.
Digital reinvention of doctor-patient dynamics
With telemedicine, the physical barriers that might hinder communication are eliminated, allowing patients to engage with healthcare professionals in a more open and transparent manner. This shift toward digital interactions not only enhances accessibility but cultivates a sense of empowerment among patients, resulting in a more collaborative approach to healthcare.
Specialized care and interdisciplinary collaboration
Telemedicine breaks down physical boundaries, opening doors to specialized care and building bridges between professionals. This interdisciplinary collaboration allows experts from various domains to collectively contribute to a patient’s well-being, even if they are miles apart. This opens avenues for knowledge exchange and continuous improvement within the healthcare sector, all while improving patient care.
Proactive healthcare and preventive measures
By utilizing telemedicine for early detection and continuous monitoring, individuals can manage their health proactively. Wearable devices and mobile applications become indispensable tools in this journey, encouraging a culture of wellness and prevention rather than solely focusing on illness treatment.
Overall cost-effectiveness
Telemedicine proves to be highly cost-effective in several ways. It reduces operational expenses for healthcare providers, minimizes patient travel costs, and enables preventive interventions that mitigate the progression of chronic conditions, helping patients avert more expensive treatments.
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, telemedicine stands out as a dynamic and inclusive solution, enabling healthcare professionals to be more attuned to the diverse needs of their patients.
For more updates on IT developments in various fields, subscribe to our newsletter.
Many doctors are overwhelmed by paperwork, leaving them stretched thin, with less time to see patients. Based in Melbourne with plans to expand around the world, Heidi Health wants to ease the burden of administrative tasks by using AI to turn consultation transcripts into case histories, referral letters, financial forms and other documents. It also […]
© 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
The rate of dementia is expected to double every 20 years, but many tools for early detection, like MRI scans, are difficult for patients to access. Neurowyzr wants to help more people get brain healthcare through tools like its online Digital Brain Function Screen (DBFS). The startup, which has offices in Singapore and India, announced today it has raised $2.1 million in seed funding. The oversubscribed round was led by Jungle Ventures and Peak XV’s (formerly Sequoia India and Southeast Asia) Surge program, with participation from angel investors.
Neurowyzr has now raised $3.3 million since it was founded in 2019 by Nav Vij and Pang Sze Yunn. It will participate in 2023 Medtech Innovator Asia Pacific, the world’s largest medtech accelerator program.
Vij, Neurowyzr’s chief digital neuroscientist, became interested in early brain decline and related therapies while studying for his neuroscience degree at the University of Melbourne. One of his family members was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease at a young age, which motivated Vij to remove obstacles to brain healthcare. Pang, who has worked on pioneering health initiatives including Asia’s first heart failure monitoring project, got interested in brain healthcare because she saw the impact brain conditions can have on family members, especially women caregivers.
Pang told TechCrunch that a lot of work in neurology currently focuses on treatment for serious brain conditions. But brain decline can start 20 to 40 years before a condition like dementia, mental illness or stroke emerges. As a result, early detection is crucial.
Neurowyzr co-founders Pang Sze Yunn (CEO) and Nav Vij (chief digital neuroscientist)
Traditional brain tests like pen-and-paper tests can be affected by tester bias, while MRI and CT scans are expensive and inaccessible to many patients. Neurowyzr wants to address the gap with its digital neuroscience assessment tool, the Digital Brain Function Screen (DBFS). Meant to be faster and less costly than traditional cognitive testing. DBFS is currently used by healthcare organizations like Parkway Shenton, SATA Commhealth, Farrer Park Hospital, MHC Medical Centre (Amara) and O’Joy in Singapore. It has also completed a pilot with a large private hospital chain in India and is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Singapore Health Sciences Authority and Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Pang said the DBFS can be completed in 15 to 20 minutes. It assesses a patient’s immediate memory, working memory, attention and executive brain function through a series of gamified neuroscience puzzles. For example, one puzzle has dots with a number on each scattered across the screen, and asks the users to connect them in order. Another shows a series of numbers that users need to memorize and then write in order. DBFS is hosted online, so patients can access it through a web browser link at home, though it was designed for primary care settings.
Neurowyzr’s new funding will be used on product development and regional expansion in Southeast Asia and India. The startup is currently working with academic organizations like the NTU Lee Kong Chian School Medicine’s Dementia Research Centre to develop more digital brain health solutions, with the goal of decreasing undetected cases of early brain decline.
In a statement, Jungle Ventures healthcare partner Seemant Jauhari said, “Projected numbers tell a stark story for Asia: over the next two decades, more than 66 million individuals could face dementia, while mild cognitive impairment could affect over 400 million. Neurowyzr is a direct response to this challenge. By assessing brain and mental health promptly, we’re building a proactive defense against potential epidemic.”
Generation Prime, a startup that wants to make IVF and other fertility services more accessible to patients in Asia, is launching its first two clinics in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The company also announced seed funding led by Recharge Capital, which incubated it, with participation from Thiel Capital, Shamrock Holdings, the Disney family’s investment vehicle and Blue Lion Global.
Generation Prime describes itself as the first “full-stack, closed-loop IVF health services clinic” in Southeast Asia, which means that IVF services will be provided through digital and physical channels, starting with initial consultations and including egg and sperm freezing, diagnosis, testing, IVF and surrogacy. The clinics expect to serve both patients who live locally, as well as those traveling from other countries, like China, for fertility services.
Over the next three years, Generation Prime plans to open a total of 15 clinics in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Lorin Gu, a founding partner at Recharge Capital, said the firm incubated Generation Prime because people in Asia want options and flexibility for family planning, but often do not have access to fertility services in the countries where they live.
Recharge Capital founding partner Lorin Gu
“Across Asia and Southeast Asia, the different legal structures have created a highly fragmented industry,” he said. He added that studies show by 2045, close to half of couples are expected to use IVF to start their families. “Despite these markers, female health conditions totaled just 1% of pharmaceutical research funding in 2020.”
Generation Prime expects about 70% of its clients to be medical tourists from China, and 30% to be local patients. “This is not because local patients are not actively using IVF services, but mainly because of the sheer population of China and the unmet demands that exists in the country,” said Gu. “In addition, China does not allow many of the IVF procedures that are currently desired by patients seeking more robust family planning services, and as a result, a large number of patients have been pushed into the Southeast Asian market.”
Generation Prime launches to make fertility services more accessible in Asia by Catherine Shu originally published on TechCrunch
According to the founder of Singapore-based telehealth platform Ora, 90% of its patients are less than 39 years old and have not been treated for their conditions offline. That puts the onus on Ora to make sure its patients, mostly millennials who live in cities, have a good experience. Ora wants to perform with verticals focused on specific health issues, like women’s and men’s health and skincare. They also run an end-to-end platform that handles everything from consultations to prescription delivery and post-care.
Today, Ora announced it has raised $10 million in Series A funding, which it says is the biggest telehealth Series A round in Southeast Asia. The investment was co-led by TNB Aura and Antler, with participation from Gobi Partners, Kairous Capital and GMA Ventures.
This brings Ora’s total raised since its inception in 2020 to $17 million. Ora was founded by Elias Pour, the former CMO of Zalora, and says it has had uninterrupted >20% month-over-month growth since it launched last year.
Pour told TechCrunch that while working at Zalora, he “saw a very clear trend from customers investing in looking good, driven by fashion buys that allowed them to express themselves, to feeling good, which is connected to physical appearance such as skin, hair, weight and overall well-being.” He started looking for segments that were underserved and found a major opportunity in healthcare.
Ora founder and CEO Elias Pour
Pour added that Southeast Asia has one of the highest out-of-pocket health expenditures globally, so there didn’t need to be a behavioral change in order to convince people to move to direct payments. “People are already used to paying out of pocket for their healthcare costs, suiting this category well for DTC.”
Ora says it has delivered over 250,000 doctor consultations since its launch in 2021. It has an end-to-end model, meaning it covers consultations, pharmacy, medication delivery and post-purchase care. Ora monetizes with subscriptions, with subscriptions accounting for more than 70% of its revenue.
Ora is vertically-integrated, and currently operates three brands. The first, called Modules, is focused on online dermatology consultations and prescription skincare. The second, andSons, offers male health care, and the third, OVA, treats female reproductive healthcare.
The platform primarily treats a young clientele. The company says that 90% of its patients are first to condition, under 38 years old and have never been treated before online. Younger patients demand flexibility and speed, which is why Ora’s telemedicine model is attractive to them.
Pour said that one of the challenges healthcare providers face in Southeast Asia is the “large disconnect between the patient population,” which skews young, and the legacy experience of healthcare. He believes that over the next decade, about 80% of healthcare services will be brought online.
“Today, men and women in their 20s and 30s living in capital cities represent 36% of the total population. It’s the fastest growing segment, forecasted to represent half of the population in most markets by 2030,” he said. Pour added that Ora is “establishing a strong relationship with them at this early stage, to earn their trust, remaining relevant to address the healthcare needs they will have as they age.”
Pour said Ora differentiates from other telehealth players like Doctor Anywhere, Speedoc and Alodokter because it focuses on specific health issues. Ora is also combining prescription, OTC and strong consumer products to provide post-treatment service and clinical continuity.
Ora’s new funding will be used to expand into new markets and brings its brands to more than 1,300 retail stores.
In a statement, TNB Aura founding partner Charles Wong said, “[Ora’s] combined focus on specialized, and often taboo, healthcare verticals as well as a direct-to-patient approach has led the team to clearly differentiate itself while delivering market-leading unit economics that meet the tailored needs of patients across the full value chain.”
Singapore’s Ora takes a vertically-integrated approach to telehealth by Catherine Shu originally published on TechCrunch
Southeast Asia’s mental health startups are getting more investor attention. Last week, Intellect announced a strategic investment from IHH Healthcare, Asia’s largest private healthcare group. Now Thoughtfull, another digital mental health platform focused on Asia, has raised $4 million in a pre-Series A round led by Sheares Healthcare Group. Sheares is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Temasek.
The round, which Thoughtfull said was oversubscribed, also included participation from returning investors Vulpes Investment Management, The Hive Southeast Asia, global family offices and founding members of companies like Grab and Zalora. TechCrunch last covered Thoughtfull in October 2021 when it raised its seed round.
Thoughtfull marks Sheares’ first investment in mental healthcare in Asia. Sheares’ other investments include its latest exit, a U.S.-based senior care company called Iora Health that was acquired by One Medical.
Called ThoughtfullChat, the startup’s platform includes personalized self-guided content and progress tracking, and access to mental health professionals through video calls and text-based coaching.
Thoughtfull claims that since its launch in 2019, its revenue has grown 30x in total. Over the past year, revenue grew 10x year-over-year despite economic downturns. Its mental health professional network now includes 57 locations in Asia and it has users in 95 locations around the world. Its app is available in 11 languages.
The startup tackles challenges like fragmented mental healthcare systems and the lack of coverage in insurance policies, which makes it difficult for employers to include mental well-being programs in their benefits packages.
Thoughtfull says in 2022, it became the first mental health startup in the region to partner with insurers like AIA Malaysia to give corporate customers access to mental health support through AIA’s Corporate Solutions portfolio. It also launched a similar partnership with FWD, another insurer, to provide access to affordable mental healthcare in Hong Kong and Thailand. One of the reasons it works with insurers is to make mental healthcare more affordable for both corporate employers and individuals.
In a prepared statement, Sheares Healthcare chief corporate development officer Khoo Ee Ping said, “Thoughtfull’s approach to scaling seamless, end-to-end mental healthcare aligns with Sheares’ mission to invest in companies that are shaping the future of healthcare through innovative and patient-focused care. Their successive payor partnerships clearly indicate the demand for their proposition and attest to the strength of their team.”
In addition to Intellect and Thoughtfull, Southeast Asia’s nascent mental healthcare startup ecosystem includes MindFi, a corporate mental health and wellness platform backed by Canva, Global Founders Capital and M Venture Partners.
Temasek’s Sheares Healthcare backs Asia-focused mental health startup Thoughtfull by Catherine Shu originally published on TechCrunch
Over the last three years, Ho Chi Minh City-based Medigo has grown to 500,000 active users by providing 24/7 one-demand prescription delivery services. Now it’s planning to grow its telehealth ecosystem with $2 million in new funding by East Ventures, with participation from Pavilion Capital and Touchstone Partners.
The new capital will allow Medigo to expand its remote doctor consultations, medicine delivery services and home testing services, including blood tests, urine tests and pregnancy tests.
Medigo’s app connects users to nearby licenses pharmacies and delivers medicine within 20 minutes. It currently has 1,000 pharmacy partners in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s three biggest cities, and will began expanding to Tier 2 cities, like Binh Duong, Vung Tau and Hai Phong, this year.
The startup’s CEO and co-fouder Ha Le began working on the app after he had trouble finding fever reducers for his daughter in the middle of the night. “When I was in university as a software engineer, I never thought that working in the healthcare space would be the center of my daily life, but now, it is my life’s mission,” he told TechCrunch.
Medigo has plenty of competitors, including Doctor Anywhere, Jio Health, Edoctor, Long Chau, Pharmacity and Rightnow. Le said Medigo differentiates by working with pharmacies that are open around the clock so it is able to operate 24/7 consistently. It also plans to connect different providers, so users can have more choices on the same platform.
In a statement about the investment, East Ventures managing partner Koh Wai Kit said, “Digital technologies can improve the accessibility and affordability of good quality healthcare. We are excited by Medigo’s mission to revolutionize pharmacies and healthcare services in Vietnam.”
Medigo’s app makes prescription deliveries available 24/7 in Vietnam by Catherine Shu originally published on TechCrunch
There are some mega-trends playing out across developed-world workforces that startups are picking up on. There’s the digitisation of healthcare, the ‘platforming’ of employee services, and the macro effects of older employees, combined with the cost of living crisis for new parents.
Founded in London in 2018, Peppy offer services around menopause, fertility, pregnancy and early parenthood to a corporate customer base, which then offers it for free to employees. The twist is that those services are largely individualised, with personal video consultations and the like.
Peppy was partly lucky and part prescient: the massive digitisation that occurred during the COVID-19 Pandemic threw employee services like this online, by necessity.
Employees using Peppy can access experts via a mobile app, with instant messaging, group chat, video consultations, live events, articles, videos and programs, as well as join communities.
Back in 2021 we covered how it had raised a $10M Series A led round by Felix Capital.
It’s now secured funding to expand in the US, with a $45m Series B led by AlbionVC. The round was joined by Kathaka, MTech Capital, Simplyhealth and Sony Innovation Fund. Previous investors Felix Capital, Hambro Perks, Outward VC and Seedcamp also participated.
Peppy started out addressing the oft-ignored issue of menopause support as an employee benefit. This was a fairly untapped area, which led it to gaining a lot of growth quite quickly (the global menopause market reached a valuation of $15.4bn, and is expected to continue growing at five percent annually through 2030, according to some estimates). In the US, around 6,000 women reach menopause every day.
Peppy now supports endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), conditions that each affect roughly one in 10 women in the US.
Dr Mridula Pore, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Peppy, said in a statement: “We’re on a mission to become a household name across the world and our Series B funding is just the start. We already dominate Europe’s employer-funded gender-based healthcare market.”
Peppy clients now include Accenture, Adobe, Canada Life, Disney, and Marsh McLennan.
Peppy secures a $45M Series B to expand its B2B2C health services platform to the US by Mike Butcher originally published on TechCrunch
