Tencent's New Move in Healthcare: Launching TengAI Doctor Platform and Partnering with China Doctors Group Alliance

On the afternoon of March 10, a grand partnership ceremony between two major players in the healthcare industry was held at Xintiandi in Shanghai. The two key parties involved are Tencent, a domestic internet giant, and the China Doctor Group Alliance, which had been established less than a month prior.



Nine Major Physician Groups from the Physician Group Alliance Join Tencent’s Teng Ai Doctor Platform to Co-create a Mobile Information Management Platform for the Healthcare SectorThe first nine physician groups to sign agreements include the Zhang Qiang Physician Group, Donglei Neurosurgery Physician Group, Private Doctor Studio Group, Woyi Obstetrics and Gynecology Renowned Physicians Group, Yuke Hernia Surgery Physician Group, Yongchun Men’s Plastic Surgery Physician Group, Xuguang Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Physician Group, Hongxin Physician Group, and Fugesheng Women’s Health. Previously joined physician groups on the Teng Ai Doctor platform include the Hu Hai Gallstone Disease Research Center, Peng Lin Yi Jia Yi Physician Group, Xie Rushi General Practice Doctor Studio, Zhongshan Hospital Department of Vascular Surgery, Sino-German Spine Surgery Center, and Shenzhen People’s Hospital Department of Pain Management.

At this year’s Two Sessions, Ma Huateng, a deputy to the National People’s Congress, put forward proposals including tiered diagnosis and treatment, free practice for physicians, and patient information sharing. Judging from the initiatives of the Teng Ai Doctor platform, Tencent has embarked on substantive, hands-on exploration in the “Internet Plus Healthcare” sector. Last year, Tencent itself launched the product Teng Ai Tang Daifu, starting with smart hardware; this latest focus on the physician market demonstrates that Tencent’s strategic footprint in the healthcare industry is becoming increasingly deep.

First, let’s understand what the TengAi Doctor Platform is.

According to Ding Ke, Vice President of Tencent, the Tengai Doctor platform is a product specifically tailored for physicians. As a physician reputation platform, it creates a trusted information channel for patients, while enabling doctors to build their own brands, earn patient trust through transparency, and thereby establish a strong professional reputation. Furthermore, Tengai Doctor helps medical teams improve healthcare efficiency; even when physicians are away, team members can communicate with patients online anytime and anywhere.



Specifically,

1. TengAi Doctor is primarily a mobile app that was incubated internally at Tencent for approximately nine months, serving as the healthcare equivalent of WeChat;

2. Tengai Doctor can perform triage. Doctors may incorporate their own triage teams into the system; however, Tencent does not operate a patient guidance desk. Instead, it leverages technological solutions to help patients screen for suitable physicians and then connects them to the corresponding professional platforms.

3. Physician Brand Building. It is reported that the Tengai Doctor platform can link to departmental official accounts and create patient medical records through Tengai Doctor, achieving seamless integration between WeChat and the App. This enables physicians to perform the basic functions offered by existing physician tools on the market.

At the alliance ceremony, Tencent and major physician groups shared their perspectives on the industry and their bilateral collaboration. VCBeat has curated the key highlights for our readers.

Tencent Vice President Ding Ke: Trust Is the Most Important Element in Doctor-Patient Relationships

Ding Ke stated that Tencent’s greatest strength lies in social networking, the essence of which is communication between individuals. In the specific context of doctor-patient communication, trust is paramount. “Trust can, in fact, be transmitted, akin to word-of-mouth propagation.”

While trust inherently exists in physician-patient relationships among acquaintances, building such trust between strangers requires leveraging established brands like physician groups to facilitate communication.

From its inception, Tengai Doctor has been positioned to serve physicians and physician groups, facilitating efficient communication between doctors and patients. In Ding Ke’s view, whether it is “Internet + Healthcare” or “Healthcare + Internet,” the internet serves merely as an engine; the key lies in how effectively this engine is utilized. “The path you choose determines whether you can reach your destination quickly.”

In this process, the fundamental issue remains how to address patients’ pain points in seeking medical care. Ding Ke believes that there is currently hardly any product on the market that can truly meet patients’ rigid demands. Existing internet-based healthcare products generally fall into two categories: those serving hospitals and those serving physicians. The approach adopted by Tengai Doctor is to help physicians unlock their capacity, enable them to better understand their patients, and foster positive interactions between physicians and patients. “As patients’ healthcare experience improves, physicians will have more energy to serve a larger number of patients, thereby significantly enhancing their own professional value.”

“We place greater emphasis on trends. Even if it is just a spark, we are willing to devote all our efforts to turning it into a prairie fire. Much like Tencent’s development of WeChat, once the right approach is identified, everything else falls into place naturally. At this stage, our priority is to lay the foundational groundwork,” said Ding Ke.

Yang Zhi, the project lead for Tengai Doctor, stated that the product aims to connect all physician groups, both within and outside the public healthcare system, as well as bridge doctors and patients. While building physicians’ brands, earning patient trust will be a key focus for Tengai Doctor moving forward.

In the future, Tengai Doctor may also venture into the field of doctor-patient education, enabling patients to scientifically select physicians based on their specific disease needs, rather than simply relying on titles and reputation.

How does Tengai Doctor perform triage?

Mu Yifei, Executive Director of Tencent Investment, previously stated in an interview with VCBeat that Tencent would serve as a connector in the healthcare sector. The Tengai app will also function as a precise backend medical engine, firmly excluding any features for adding extra appointment slots. “Our role is to respond when users have needs: we screen them through a funnel, and once they reach out to us, we connect them with the appropriate healthcare providers,” said Ding Ke.

Ding Ke explained that the official accounts, homepages, or contact methods provided to expert group physicians on Tengai Doctor are demand-oriented. Patient requests submitted online undergo a review process, and the vetting of physicians joining the platform is becoming increasingly stringent. “We strive to ensure that the patients reaching our physicians are of higher quality than those typically seen in outpatient clinics.” Specifically, physicians wishing to join the Tengai Doctor platform must first provide their basic personal information. The backend system then screens applicants based on keywords and performs appropriate matching.

Lin Feng, Founder of the Private Doctor Studio Group: Hospitals Lack Brands, but Physicians’ Brands Are Replicable

This year marks Dr. Lin Feng’s 31st year in medical practice. Within his professional circle, there was initially considerable resistance to the internet, with many colleagues dismissing it with disdain. Dr. Lin, however, was an exception. Together with two other physicians, he has been hailed as one of the “Three Musketeers of Lingnan” for pioneering freelance medical practice.

Lin Feng believes that the current healthcare environment suffers from numerous pain points, leaving patients, doctors, and the government dissatisfied. The essence of changing this status quo still lies with physicians. “Whether for doctors or hospitals, their value must be defined by patient recognition of the medical services provided.”

A major reality in China’s current healthcare market is that patients “trust the institution, not the individual.” Once doctors leave public hospitals, they often struggle to advance their careers, largely because most lack a personal brand. However, Lin Feng argues that hospitals themselves do not truly have brands; if doctors and nurses relocate elsewhere, the hospital becomes little more than a name in existence only.

“The domestic healthcare market is already undergoing changes, with many public hospitals beginning to pilot the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and implement shareholding reforms. Beyond fixed real estate assets, a hospital’s most core resource is actually its physicians. While real estate is immovable, physicians are mobile, and their professional brands can be replicated,” said Lin Feng. “Physician groups aim to establish a portable and trusted brand for doctors.”

Zhang Qiang: Build a Strong Brand, and the Money Will Follow

Zhang Qiang believes that the activity level of doctors registered on many current internet-based platforms is declining. This is because these products were initially designed to leverage doctors’ fragmented time, which constitutes the biggest pitfall. “Doctors’ fragmented time is the most expensive; for some physicians, it is even more costly than their official working hours.”

Zhang Qiang stated that internet healthcare companies must take commercial rules into account when designing products. “If a doctor spends every day answering questions online, he is certainly a poor offline physician, as it implies he has little to do in his clinical practice.”

It is reported that since its establishment in 2014, the Dr. Zhang Qiang Doctor Group has operated on a team-based medical model, with each team supported by physician assistants and specialist assistants, and all appointments conducted on a reservation-only basis. “In the future, internet healthcare will follow the same pattern, where a dedicated team will be responsible for patient engagement,” predicted Dr. Zhang Qiang.

Regarding the profit model of physician groups, Zhang Qiang believes that while online consultations may address seemingly simple patient issues, the benefits they provide leave a lasting impression on patients. Among these patients, perhaps one or two out of ten develop an awareness of your brand, which is when the value of your physician team truly materializes. “We do not focus on money, nor do we set specific performance metrics for physicians. In fact, physicians need not concern themselves with financial matters; as long as patients recognize and trust you, profitability will follow naturally.”