Ping An Good Doctor and Boehringer Ingelheim Launch China's First Comprehensive Online COPD Management Program

“It feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest…” Due to bronchial obstruction and progressively declining lung function, a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) described their experience in this way. COPD is a chronic disease with low public awareness; patients are typically diagnosed at a late stage, and it has become the third leading cause of death globally. Clinical trials have demonstrated that standardized diagnosis and treatment, along with long-term personalized health management plans, can enable precise screening, significantly halt disease progression, and improve the quality of life for COPD patients.

On July 9, PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR, China’s leading healthcare ecosystem platform, signed a cooperation agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim, the century-old German pharmaceutical company, in Shanghai. The two parties will join hands to create China’s first comprehensive online management program for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This collaboration will focus on science popularization, treatment, and long-term management in the field of COPD, benefiting more Chinese patients with the condition.

Li Hongzhao, Assistant to the General Manager of PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR (right), and Dong Bowen, General Manager of Boehringer Ingelheim's Human Pharmaceuticals Business Unit in Greater China (left)

The specific details of the cooperation include online consultations, prescription services, medication refills, delivery, and providing patients with medical consultation, health education, disease management, and other services. Notably, the “Private Doctor” service introduced in this collaboration marks the first attempt of its kind in the field of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment in China. The Private Doctor team comprises physicians from PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR’s proprietary medical team of over 1,000 professionals and renowned experts from the top 100 hospitals nationwide. Supported by PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR’s self-developed AI Doctor (i.e., the AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment system, which serves as the core engine of PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR and consists of an intelligent critical care monitoring system, an AI-powered intelligent consultation assistance system, a rational drug use monitoring system, and an intelligent medical safety monitoring platform), the Private Doctor team can provide comprehensive coverage throughout the entire patient journey. COPD patients who meet specific criteria are eligible for free 24/7 services, including online consultations, referrals, appointment scheduling, hospitalization arrangements, as well as scientific medication counseling and guidance, personalized disease risk assessment, and proactive management.

Based on massive big data from an average of 729,000 daily online consultations, PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR has accumulated over 670 million consultation records. This enables the precise identification of high-risk populations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) through online user tagging. Supported by its Private Doctor health services, the platform helps patients “use the right medications” and “use them correctly.” Tailored to individual conditions, PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR’s private doctors provide customized COPD treatment plans, medication recommendations, and health management guidance. Under professional medical supervision, patients can select appropriate medications, use inhalation devices correctly and effectively, promptly assess the risk of acute exacerbations, and adjust treatment plans accordingly, thereby alleviating symptoms and preventing acute exacerbations.

As a renowned German family-owned pharmaceutical company, Boehringer Ingelheim has been dedicated to the field of respiratory disease treatment for nearly 100 years, launching multiple medications for pulmonary diseases globally and in China with remarkable achievements. In the field of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Boehringer Ingelheim continues to innovate. For instance, Spiriva® Respimat®, a dual bronchodilator for COPD that was launched in China in 2018, has provided new treatment options for COPD patients in China. Meanwhile, its inhalation device, Respimat®, is a uniquely innovative soft mist inhaler that actively generates a spray, making it easier for patients to inhale. It also delivers medication consistently, ensuring efficient lung deposition and helping to guarantee therapeutic efficacy.

“As a leading one-stop healthcare ecosystem platform in China, PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR is committed to ensuring that every family has a family doctor, every individual has an electronic health record, and every person has a personalized health management plan. This inaugural collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim in the field of respiratory health holds profound significance, as it enables the creation of a closed-loop ecosystem for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management centered on ‘health services,’ thereby innovating disease management models. We look forward to expanding our cooperation with Boehringer Ingelheim into more therapeutic areas in the future. By leveraging PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR’s proprietary physician team and the open capabilities of its AI Doctor, we aim to empower external physicians, enhance the efficiency and accuracy of clinical consultations, facilitate precise and efficient patient management, improve the utilization of medical resources, and ensure user satisfaction. Together, we will contribute to the Healthy China 2030 initiative and continuously advance the development of internet healthcare in China,” stated a representative from PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR.

While bringing innovative medicines to patients in China, the company has also been committed to collaborating with various stakeholders to jointly enhance disease awareness and management standards for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). “The sudden outbreak of the epidemic this year has made the challenges of accessing medical care and managing the disease particularly prominent. This is especially true for COPD patients who require long-term, stable management and care, for whom frequent trips to the hospital are indeed very difficult,” said Pavol Dobrocky, General Manager of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Human Pharma Business in Greater China. “We are delighted to partner with PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR. By leveraging this leading healthcare platform in China, we aim to jointly promote digital innovation, enabling the vast number of COPD patients in China to enjoy the convenience of one-stop online diagnosis and treatment. In the future, COPD patients will be able to easily complete consultations, medication dispensing, and medical advice anytime and anywhere, without the need for repeated visits to hospitals.”

It is reported that both parties are considering further exploring cooperation in areas such as diabetes and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, aiming to leverage their respective strengths to advance comprehensive collaboration in internet healthcare, private physician services, and commercial insurance for chronic diseases. Meanwhile, offline, they will also actively explore cooperative models with thousands of pharmacies.

Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (stock abbreviation: “PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR,” 1833.HK) is China’s leading one-stop healthcare ecosystem platform, committed to providing every family with a family doctor, every individual with an electronic health record, and every person with a personalized health management plan through its “mobile healthcare + AI” model. Currently, PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR has established key business segments including online medical services, consumer healthcare, the health mall, health management, and user engagement.

In April 2015, the “PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR” app was officially launched. In May 2016, PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR completed a USD 500 million Series A financing round. On May 4, 2018, PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code 1833.HK, earning it the title of the world’s first medical technology IPO.

As of the end of December 2019, PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR had accumulated 315 million registered users, with 66.9 million monthly active users at the period-end, making it the mobile healthcare application with the highest coverage in China. PINGAN GOOD DOCTOR has established an in-house medical team of over 1,000 professionals and contracted with renowned external physicians. Empowered by its AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment system, the platform provides users with auxiliary diagnosis, rehabilitation guidance, and medication advice through 24/7 online consultations. It collaborates with more than 3,000 offline hospitals (including over 1,900 Grade A tertiary hospitals) to deliver subsequent triage and referral services, as well as initial offline consultations and follow-up visits for recurrent conditions.

As of December 31, 2019, the healthcare service provider network covered more than 3,000 hospitals, over 150 medical aesthetics institutions, 430 traditional Chinese medicine clinics, more than 2,000 health check-up centers, nearly 1,800 dental institutions, over 48,000 clinics, and 94,000 partner pharmacies.

Boehringer Ingelheim, an R&D-driven pharmaceutical company, is committed to improving human and animal health by focusing on disease areas where effective treatments are still lacking. The company strives to develop innovative therapies that help patients extend their lives. In the field of animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim represents advanced preventive solutions.

Boehringer Ingelheim, founded in 1885, remains a family-owned company. It is one of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Across its three business areas—human pharmaceuticals, animal health, and biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing—approximately 50,000 employees globally strive daily to deliver value through innovation. In 2018, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of approximately €17.5 billion, with R&D expenditures nearing €3.2 billion, equivalent to 18.1% of net sales.

As a family-owned business, Boehringer Ingelheim aspires to achieve long-term success. The company aims to realize organic growth through its own resources while actively seeking partners and strategic alliances in the field of research and development. Furthermore, all of the company’s actions are conducted with responsibility toward humanity and the environment.