Tencent's 2016 China 'Internet+' Summit Highlights the Refinement and Ecosystem Development of 'Internet+ Healthcare'

On June 16, the 2016 China “Internet+ Healthcare” Summit, hosted by Tencent, was held in Beijing. As a premier summit in the “Internet+ Healthcare” sector, the event brought together leaders from government agencies such as the National Health and Family Planning Commission, medical experts including academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, executives from leading internet companies, and representatives from major media outlets. VCBeat provides immediate and detailed coverage of the healthcare-related aspects of the summit.

This forum focused on the strategic layout for the new phase of “Internet + Healthcare,” explored models integrating internet technology with medical care, shared new insights and achievements, and jointly investigated innovative healthcare service models in the era of “Internet +.”

“Internet + Healthcare” Trends Toward Refinement and Ecosystem Integration

In recent years, policy-level support has significantly propelled the development of “Internet + Healthcare.” At the State Council executive meeting held on June 8, Premier Li Keqiang emphasized leveraging medical big data to enhance health and healthcare services, further charting the course for the advancement of “Internet + Healthcare.”

Driven by the continuous exploration and innovation of internet companies and healthcare professionals, China’s “Internet + Healthcare” industrial ecosystem has begun to take shape. According to a report released by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), by the end of 2015, the number of users of internet-based medical services in China reached 152 million, meaning that one in every five internet users had benefited from the convenience offered by these services.

At present, “Internet+” technologies have been applied to every segment of the healthcare industry. Internet companies led by BAT (Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent) have entered the healthcare sector. Alibaba is implementing a broad health strategy, forging partnerships centered on mobile payments to build an ecosystem encompassing online medical platforms and pharmaceutical e-commerce platforms. Baidu focuses on “connecting patients and physicians + artificial intelligence,” leveraging its big data and traffic advantages to create a pre-consultation intelligent triage platform while exploring advancements in artificial intelligence. Tencent, capitalizing on its social networking DNA and big data capabilities, has established an open “Internet+ Healthcare” platform, serving as a connector between China’s healthcare industry and the internet.

Amidst the exploration of the “Internet + Healthcare” system by major internet companies, each leveraging its unique strengths, a mainstream trend toward refined and ecosystem-driven “Internet + Healthcare” has taken shape.

Empowerment and Integration Are the Core of “Internet + Healthcare”

At the forum, representatives from internet companies—Wu Bo, General Manager of Tencent’s Tengai Medical; Li Tiantian, Founder of DXY; Liao Jieyuan, Founder of WeDoctor; and Wang Shirui, Founder of Medlinker—shared their practical experiences in the “Internet + Healthcare” sector. Their discussions covered various perspectives, including expanding information channels for internet-based healthcare, the evolutionary path of “Internet + Healthcare,” the integration of the internet with medical services, and the role of the internet in facilitating physicians’ multi-site practice. Government representatives, including Director Cheng Long from the National Health and Family Planning Commission and Director Yan Gang from the Guizhou Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, along with medical sector representative Ning Guang, Vice President of Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, presented insights on leveraging “Internet + Healthcare” to build a national health system and shared experiences in internet-enabled chronic disease management.

During the presentations and discussions, participants distilled valuable practical experiences, including leveraging big data platforms and innovative technologies to enhance diagnostic and treatment efficiency, utilizing internet technologies to optimize the structure of medical processes, and promoting the precise allocation of medical resources. Meanwhile, forum participants addressed challenges within the healthcare industry, such as professional barriers, a shortage of high-quality physician resources in China, and strained doctor-patient relationships. They emphasized the importance for key healthcare stakeholders, including physicians and hospitals, to proactively embrace the internet and engage deeply in the integration of internet technology with healthcare. At the roundtable forum, attendees reached a consensus on adhering to a demand-oriented approach and employing “Internet Plus” thinking and big data methods to accelerate the development of a comprehensive health industry chain encompassing “medical care, elderly care, wellness, and health management,” thereby fostering the integrated development of the broader health sector and big data.

At the forum, attendees also showcased the current achievements of “Internet + Healthcare.” For instance, the strategic cooperation pilot project on “Internet + Chronic Disease Management,” jointly undertaken by Tencent, the Guizhou Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, and Bailin Pharmaceutical, has yielded positive results. Intelligent online appointment platforms have optimized medical service processes, and wearable health devices have become increasingly prevalent. These developments demonstrate how “Internet + Healthcare” is delivering tangible benefits to society and people’s livelihoods.

In the future, “Internet + Healthcare” will continue to develop in depth, empowering healthcare providers and helping make medical services more accessible and beneficial to the public.

For detailed coverage of the summit, please stay tuned for upcoming reports from VCBeat.