MedLink and GenePlus Forge Strategic Partnership to Co-Build an Oncology Cloud Clinic for Chronic Disease Management

Recently, Medlinker, a leading chronic disease management platform in China, has entered into a strategic partnership with Gene+. The two parties will join forces to explore "Internet + Healthcare" services in the field of oncology, focusing on online follow-up consultations for chronic conditions, follow-up management, patient-provider education, and the research and development of related products, with the aim of jointly building a chronic disease management service system for oncology cloud clinics.

Driven by population growth, an aging demographic, and unhealthy lifestyles, the incidence and mortality rates of cancer in China have shown a sustained upward trend over the past decade. According to the latest data released by the National Cancer Center in January 2019, there were approximately 3.929 million new cases of malignant tumors and about 2.338 million deaths in China in 2015. As a malignant disease that poses a severe threat to human life and health, cancer has long been a source of widespread fear. However, with continuous advancements in modern medical technology and pharmaceuticals, coupled with improved out-of-hospital health, medical care, and medication management for cancer patients, both survival rates and quality of life have significantly improved.

Regarding this collaboration, a representative from Medlinker stated, “Gene+ is a leader in the field of genetic testing and an active practitioner of the national cancer prevention and control initiative centered on early screening, early diagnosis, and early treatment. Gene+ shares a high degree of alignment with Medlinker in operational philosophy, as both parties are committed to providing more scientific and effective modern medical services for patients with chronic diseases. Through this collaboration between Medlinker and Gene+, we aim to fully leverage our respective strengths to create an integrated oncology cloud clinic that encompasses early screening, diagnosis and treatment, and out-of-hospital rehabilitation, with the goal of improving the quality of life for cancer patients.”

Yi Xin, Chairman of Gene+, stated, “This strategic partnership with Medlinker will enable deep integration of our respective strengths, further enriching service models and expanding our service reach. It will support the establishment of a whole-course management model for oncology and provide more online diagnosis and treatment solutions for oncology specialists. The joint development of an ‘Oncology Cloud Clinic’ is a crucial step toward achieving integrated diagnosis and treatment as well as integrated prevention and care. We aim to better serve more patients with chronic diseases through a comprehensive, scientific process that spans from genetic testing to medical consultation and post-hospital management.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the two parties jointly launched an online "Oncology Cloud Clinic" to address the difficulties faced by cancer patients, such as limited mobility, challenges in accessing medical care, and fear of cross-infection. More than 20 renowned experts from leading hospitals across China, including Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing Cancer Hospital, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, and Shanghai Chest Hospital, were invited to provide over 40 one-on-one free consultation sessions and seven public welfare science popularization live streams. These initiatives offered free online medical consultations, effectively alleviating the hardships and anxiety of cancer patients during this special period and ensuring they received timely assistance.Leveraging Medlinker’s extensive experience in internet healthcare operations, its mature specialized chronic disease management system, and its integrated online and offline medical resources, combined with Gene+’s capabilities in providing tumor genetic testing products, data services, and scientific research support, the two parties are poised to deliver more comprehensive, convenient, and high-quality internet-based chronic disease management services. This collaboration aims to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients outside hospital settings.

Medlinker, established in 2014, is China’s leading chronic disease management platform. It is dedicated to providing long-term, standardized specialty care for chronic disease patients, leveraging technology to help them achieve a high quality of life. Currently, the Medlinker platform brings together more than 800,000 real-name verified physicians and over 50,000 contracted doctors across China. Its services span multiple chronic disease areas, including liver disease, diabetes, HIV, oncology, nephrology, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, mental health, and respiratory conditions such as asthma. The platform offers a range of effective, affordable, and accessible out-of-hospital chronic disease management services, including treatment recommendations, evaluation of therapeutic outcomes, electronic prescriptions, medication guidance, psychological counseling, and lifestyle interventions, thereby enabling effective control of patients’ conditions.

Gene+, established in 2015, leverages next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing and a big data platform for tumor genomics to focus on precision oncology. It has structured its operations across the entire spectrum of cancer prevention and control, developing four core business segments: clinical testing services, medical device manufacturing, scientific collaboration services, and cancer prevention and control services. Additionally, addressing the needs for precise cancer prevention and early detection in healthy individuals, Gene+ is developing multi-dimensional early cancer detection technologies encompassing genetics, mutations, immunity, and infections, thereby exploring an integrated auxiliary diagnostic model that combines prevention and treatment.