Medlinker Recognized as 2018 Innovative Enterprise, Expands Specialty-Focused Internet Hospital Business
On December 18, the “2018 Top 100 Future Healthcare Companies” forum, hosted by VCBeat, kicked off in Beijing. The forum unveiled the 2018 list of the Top 100 Future Healthcare Companies, with Medlinker ranking 13th. Notably, thanks to its innovative model exploration in the internet hospital sector in 2018, Medlinker was once again honored with the “Enterprise of the Year” award, having previously won it in 2017. Meanwhile, Wang Shirui, Founder and CEO of Medlinker, was named a “Key Figure to Watch in the 2018 Future Healthcare Industry.”
In June 2018, Medlinker completed its RMB 1 billion Series D financing round, led by China Investment Capital and Zhongcai Financial Holdings, with participation from Sequoia Capital China, CEC Health Industry Fund, and China Renaissance New Economy Fund. This milestone propelled the company into the ranks of unicorns, having begun to deeply cultivate its single-disease internet hospital business in early 2018.
As a strategic partner of Gilead Sciences China, Medlinker has focused on hepatitis C within the field of hepatology, bringing together nearly 17,000 hepatologists across China. Patient-centric and leveraging the advantages of internet technology, Medlinker has developed an internet hospital management system that facilitates real-time communication between doctors and patients for follow-up visits and ongoing monitoring, gradually establishing a closed loop among “physicians, pharmaceuticals, and patients” to serve millions of individuals with hepatitis C. Thoroughly implementing and solidifying chronic disease management for each specific condition, thereby enhancing physician efficiency and delivering tangible benefits to patients, represents the primary strategic direction of Medlinker’s internet hospital initiatives.
In the realm of physician services, Medlinker continuously refined its products in 2018 to enhance the user experience on its physician platform. Academic content and video programs that blend professionalism with engaging elements were consistently updated and innovated. Initiatives such as the ongoing development of physicians’ personal brands, the knowledge-based quiz game “Angel Expert” designed exclusively for physicians, and the physician-specific anonymous community app “Shikong” (a counterpart to “Wumi”) have been highly acclaimed by physician users. Through meticulous operational strategies, the number of users on the Medlinker physician platform has steadily increased. To date, the platform has aggregated 550,000 real-name verified physicians, including 27,000 contracted physicians.
Starting with a physician platform, Medlinker has consistently structured its business around core segments of the healthcare industry chain, including physicians, pharmaceuticals, and patients. In 2018, buoyed by favorable national policies and the introduction of clearer regulatory frameworks for internet hospitals and related business models, Medlinker identified the single-disease-focused internet hospital model as a key direction for future development. Wang Shirui stated that Medlinker will continue to refine its diversified layout in the healthcare sector. While maintaining its foundation as a physician platform, the company will intensify its efforts in internet hospital operations. By integrating medical resources such as physicians, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare institutions, and pharmacies, Medlinker aims to create greater social and commercial value, benefiting both medical professionals and the public.