VB Weekly Report 1123: Industry Trendsetters and Their Latest Moves
VCBeat (ID: vcbeat)
——————————————Event——————————————
Recently, in addition to the clustering of major annual conferences, a “Langya Bang”-style national hospital ranking was released by Baidu in collaboration with Fudan University. On the list of top hospitals, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital ranked in the top three.
“The Fudan Edition” Best Hospitals Ranking has been around for five years now, evolving from initial widespread skepticism to becoming a key benchmark for hospitals to gauge their competitive strength. It is truly an inspiring journey filled with both blood and tears!
Let’s continue to examine the struggles of practitioners in this field.
Ali Health Undergoes Major Transformation, with O2O Drug Delivery and Online Doctor Consultations Emerging as Key Highlights.
Last week,Ali Health’s official website, operating under the domain www.alihealth.cn, has been revamped and launched. The site showcases Ali Health’s four core business segments: pharmaceutical retail, medical services, drug regulatory codes, and health insurance. Additionally, the website provides self-service onboarding capabilities for chain pharmacies and medical networks.
Meanwhile, the new version of the AliHealth app has quietly launched on major app stores., while providing consumers with an omnichannel medication purchasing model that integrates online and offline services, the new version of the AliHealth App has also launched two new features: “Contracted Exclusive Family Doctor” and “Specialist Appointment.” After the update, users can not only access the latest promotional offers but also check inventory levels at nearby pharmacies for targeted medication purchases. Additionally, users can find suitable medications by entering drug names or symptoms into the search bar at the top of the App.
In contrast to the low-key approach of Alibaba Health,Tencent Takes Center Stage as Tangdaifu Smart Glucometer Launches Version 2.0
The Tangdaifu Smart Glucometer Version 2.0 will leverage an internet-based platform and big data model, partnering with the renowned social healthcare platform DXY and ZhongAn Insurance to launch the world’s first smart medical protection plan. It will provide patients with real-time online medical diagnosis and health management services akin to those of a family doctor, develop personalized blood glucose management solutions, and break with tradition by offering rehabilitation incentive insurance, enabling patients to experience the one-stop novel service brought by “Internet + Medical Insurance.”
Effective immediately, consumers can purchase the Tang Daifu Smart Blood Glucose Meter 2.0 on the official Tang Daifu website (tdf.qq.com).
Furthermore, DXY will leverage the big data accumulated from version 2.0 of Tang Daifu to conduct Phase IV clinical studies and produce literature reviews, thereby advancing research on glycemic control and facilitating more effective population-based prevention and management of diabetes.
Currently, DXY has established a dedicated nursing center for Tang Da Fu, staffed by 20 full-time nurses with clinical backgrounds who provide manual services.
Then there is the long-standing controversy surroundingChunyu Doctor Strikes Again, Reaching a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Product Innovation with PICC Property and Casualty Insurance
On November 18, PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited signed a strategic cooperation agreement on product innovation with Chunyu Yisheng (Spring Rain Doctor). Under the agreement, both parties agreed that Chunyu Yisheng would provide tiered diagnosis and treatment services based on online health consultations, Chunyu Clinics, authoritative medical institutions, and Chunyu International, tailored to the characteristics and different segments of PICC P&C’s customer base. By delivering tiered and standardized service offerings, Chunyu Yisheng will support PICC P&C in innovating health service-oriented insurance products. The Shenzhen Insurance Product Innovation Laboratory of PICC P&C will undertake the product innovation work for this collaborative project.
It is reported that the collaboration between the two parties will extend beyond health insurance and medical process management to include health big data. Chunyu Yisheng has accumulated tens of millions of health consultation records in recent years. When combined with PICC Property and Casualty’s strong actuarial capabilities, this partnership offers significant potential for product design and future profitability.
In addition, Chunyu Doctor has partnered with CNR Health and Beijing Run Chen Technology to launch a public welfare initiative—the “CNR Health – National Blood Sugar Control Program.” The program’s app, “e-Ping Tang,” aims to help patients with diabetes effectively manage their blood glucose levels through data analysis, human intervention, online reminders, and online consultations.
Unlike the previous “minor skirmishes,” some are boldly “throwing money” at the big health industry.
▼
▼
▼
Dian Diagnostics Partners with Hangzhou Jiebai and Baida Group to Capture the High-End Health Services Market.
On the morning of the 17th, Dian Diagnostics announced that it plans to use its own funds of RMB 21 million to jointly establish Zhejiang Yihe International Health Management Co., Ltd. (tentative name) with Hangzhou Jiebai and Baida Group Co., Ltd.
According to the announcement, Yihe International Health Management Co., Ltd. has a registered capital of RMB 60 million. The joint venture’s business model is to establish a “D2B2C” private home health management service platform, providing family doctor-style health management services and full-process medical follow-up services to members (i.e., the C-end); and offering high-quality customer bases and public clinical support services to doctors and professional health service institutions stationed on the platform (i.e., the D-end). Among the shareholders, Hangzhou Jiebai contributed RMB 27 million, accounting for 45%; Dian Diagnostics contributed RMB 21 million, accounting for 35%; and Baida Group contributed RMB 12 million, accounting for 20%.
The Jointly Established Health Management CenterDedicated to providing high-net-worth clients with comprehensive, full-lifecycle health management and medical services., jointly building a high-end, professional, and personalized one-stop health management service platform.
It is reported that Yihe Health’s first clinic is expected to launch at the Xizi International project in Hangzhou Tower.
Taikang Leads Investment in Tasly's Big Health Industry Fund.
Recently, Taikang Life Insurance and Tasly Holding Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement and established the “Tasly Great Health Industry Fund.” The fund is led by Taikang as the lead investor, with partners collectively committing RMB 5 billion in capital contributions.
It is reported that the fund will actively invest in the big health industry, focusing on the development of its ecosystem. Key investment areas include: rehabilitation and specialized hospitals; medical equipment companies, medical device companies, and major disease diagnostic companies closely linked to the pharmaceutical industry; traditional Chinese medicine processing and trading enterprises with upstream resources; and health supplement and functional food companies with strong brand advantages. The fund will also pay attention to projects in emerging fields such as telemedicine, mobile healthcare, and big data platforms for medical services.
In recent years, Taikang has strategically positioned itself in the broader health sector, continuously exploring innovative models that integrate insurance with healthcare and elderly care. It has successfully acquired premium land parcels in seven core cities—Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Sanya, Suzhou, Chengdu, and Wuhan—becoming the company with the largest chain of medical-nursing communities across China. The plan to equip each community with a dedicated rehabilitation hospital has made “integration of medical and nursing care” the hallmark feature of Taikang’s senior living communities. In March this year, Taikang Health Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Taikang, was officially established, marking an innovative endeavor in the health sector by organically combining insurance products with tangible health management services.
Additionally, the internet healthcare sector has seen another cross-industry giant exit.
Inte GroupThe announcement last Friday stated,Signed a three-year “Internet + Healthcare” Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Hangzhou Zhuojian Information Technology Co., Ltd.》，the two parties plan to leverage their respective strengths in the fields of pharmaceutical healthcare and mobile health to cooperate in multiple areas, including the provision of comprehensive pharmaceutical and medical solutions, the development of healthcare platforms and smart commerce platforms, information sharing, market expansion and brand promotion, business synergy, and strategic investment, thereby promoting mutual development.
The scope of cooperation includes:
1. Jointly provide convenient and intelligent comprehensive solutions for mainstream medical institutions, patients, and all segments of the pharmaceutical marketing system within Zhejiang Province.
2. Jointly develop healthcare and smart commerce platforms to create a leading professional platform within Zhejiang Province.
3. In market activities related to the medical and health services industry, jointly promote both parties’ brands and give priority to collaborating with each other on new supporting projects.
4. Cooperative projects shall proceed from small to large scale and from partial to comprehensive implementation. Initial collaboration will focus on the doctor-patient interaction platform, encompassing education on medical and pharmaceutical knowledge as well as disease prevention and control; cooperation in the DTP (Direct-to-Patient) closed-loop marketing model; and collaboration in online consultation and remote会诊 services. At an appropriate time, both parties may serve as strategic investors in each other, engage in cross-shareholding, and jointly participate in each other’s project development.
Also missed a hospital.
The First Sino-Foreign Joint Venture International Hospital Settles in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.
Following the official establishment of Artermon Hospital, the first wholly foreign-owned hospital (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) in mainland China, within the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, the ground-breaking ceremony for Raffles International Hospital Shanghai—the first Sino-foreign joint venture international hospital in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone—was held last week in the Qiantan area of Pudong.
It is reported that the Shanghai Raffles International Hospital project is a joint venture between Singapore’s Raffles Medical Group and the Shanghai Lujiazui Group, offering comprehensive specialized medical services across all disciplines. The hospital will prioritize investment in key specialties such as cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, and plastic surgery, by recruiting additional top-tier professionals and introducing cutting-edge industry technologies. During the construction phase of Shanghai Raffles International Hospital, specialist physicians, nurses, and healthcare administrative staff from various departments will undergo training in Singapore to fully prepare for their roles in clinical governance and hospital administration.
And also...
Sephora China Introduces Mobile Skin-Analysis Hardware.
Recently, SEPHORA China has entered into a cooperation agreement with Beijing Aijifu Technology Co., Ltd. SEPHORA China will integrate the “mobile skin testing technology” developed by Beijing Aijifu Technology Co., Ltd. into its WeChat official account. Going forward, consumers will be able to conduct facial skin assessments using their smartphones via SEPHORA China’s WeChat official account and receive personalized product recommendations based on the results.
——————————VCBeat Exclusive——————————
These Data Reveal That BAT’s Infiltration of Healthcare Institutions Is Just the Beginning
Infographic: Five Major Trends—Profoundly Shaping the Present and Future of the Healthcare Industry
U.S. Venture Capital Firm: Large-Scale Series A Financing May Lead to Catastrophic Consequences
The Economist: What Conditions Are Required for Telemedicine to Be Viable?
In the Mobile and Social Domains, Pharmaceutical Companies Have Missed the First-Mover Advantage
Exploring the World’s Top Medical Institutions: UCSF Medical Center
Dr. Wei Jianfeng on Entrepreneurship: Why Tencent’s $150 Million Investment Took Only Three Days
Interpretation of Trending English Terms in Digital Health:Medical Tourism / BMI
——————————————Healthcare Reform——————————————
★Gansu Province to Promote De-administratization of County-Level Public Hospitals
The Health and Family Planning Commission of Gansu Province issued the “Division of Responsibilities among Departments for Comprehensively Advancing the Comprehensive Reform of County-Level Public Hospitals in Gansu Province” and the “Division of Responsibilities among Departments for the Pilot Program of Comprehensive Reform of Urban Public Hospitals.”We will advance the de-administratization of county-level public hospitals and gradually abolish their administrative ranks.Going forward, the Management Committee for County-Level Public Hospitals will assume the government’s responsibilities in hospital administration, overseeing matters such as hospital development planning, formulation of articles of association, implementation of major projects, fiscal investment, selection and appointment of hospital directors, operational supervision, and performance evaluation. The Committee will strengthen incentive and constraint mechanisms for hospital directors, enhance annual and term-based target management, establish an accountability system, and strictly prohibit linking directors’ compensation directly to the hospital’s economic revenue. Patients may choose freely whether to purchase prescribed medications at hospitals or retail pharmacies. An information technology platform covering the entire province will be developed to integrate the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme and electronic health records.
★Online Filing Only Required for Physicians’ Multi-Site Practice
Led by the Shenzhen Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission, the “Shenzhen Physician Practice Management System” has been developed to interface with the National Health and Family Planning Commission’s Physician Practice Management System and Physician Periodic Assessment Management System, as well as the Shenzhen Administrative Approval and Supervision System. Starting from November 20 this year, online filing for physicians’ multi-site practice will be implemented, with a one-month trial period. During the trial period, Shenzhen will adopt a parallel approach of online filing and written submission for multi-site practice registration, with priority given to online filing.Starting from December 21, Shenzhen will implement a unified online registration system for physicians’ multi-site practice, and paper-based registrations will no longer be accepted.
★ Anhui: Record-filing system ensures benefits for newly recruited personnel
The Health and Family Planning Commission of Anhui Province recently posted on its website the “Implementation Opinions on Improving the Personnel and Compensation System in Public Hospitals,” jointly issued by the provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, the Office for Healthcare Reform, the State Commission Office for Public Sector Reform, the Department of Finance, and the Health and Family Planning Commission. The “Opinions” propose thatWhile maintaining the existing approved staffing quota, a record-based staffing quota shall be established. Personnel within this record-based quota shall enjoy the same treatment as those within the approved quota in areas such as professional title evaluation.
★ Release of the Strictest Drug Review and Approval System
Recently, the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) issued the "Announcement on Several Policies for Drug Registration Review and Approval," which clearly stipulates measures to raise approval standards for generic drugs, optimize the review and approval process for clinical trial applications, accelerate the approval of drugs urgently needed in clinical practice, and severely punish data fabrication in clinical trials, with the aim of improving the quality and efficiency of drug review and approval in China.
★ Technical Specifications Now in Place for Health Management of the Elderly
The National Health and Family Planning Commission issued the "Technical Specifications for Health Management of the Elderly,"Proposing Process and Appropriate Technical Requirements for Health Management of Adults Aged 65 and Older, applicable to the health management of elderly individuals when primary healthcare institutions provide services under the National Basic Public Health Services Program. The “Specifications” shall come into effect on April 1, 2016.
★ Guangdong’s Urban Public Hospitals to Fully Eliminate Drug Markups
The official website of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government released the “Implementation Opinions on the Comprehensive Reform of Urban Public Hospitals in Guangdong Province,” specifying that by 2016, the pilot program for comprehensive reform of urban public hospitals would be expanded to cover 50% of prefecture-level cities and above, and by 2017, the comprehensive reform would be fully implemented across all urban public hospitals in the province. Overall, the proportion of individual out-of-pocket health expenditures to total health expenditure would be reduced to below 30%. The “Opinions” also proposed the complete elimination of drug markups (with the exception of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces) to abolish the mechanism of subsidizing medical services with drug profits.
★ Nine Departments Jointly Promote the Integration of Medical and Elderly Care; Medical Institutions Established Within Elderly Care Facilities to Be Included in Medical Insurance
Nine departments, led by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, jointly issued the “Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Integration of Medical and Elderly Care Services,” with a focus on advancing the integration of medical care and elderly care.
Recently, nine departments, led by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Integration of Medical and Elderly Care Services." The "Opinions" propose two development goals with 2017 and 2020 as target milestones. Regarding medical institutions, the goals are as follows: By 2017, more than 80% of medical institutions should establish green channels to provide convenient services for the elderly, such as registration and medical consultation; more than 50% of elderly care institutions should be able to provide medical and health services to resident seniors in various forms. By 2020, all medical institutions should establish such green channels for the elderly, and all elderly care institutions should be able to provide medical and health services to resident seniors in various forms.
★Guangdong: Associate Chief Physicians Can Now Directly Open Clinics
Liao Xinbo, an inspector from the Guangdong Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, stated that Guangdong Province is currently reissuing guidance on multi-site practice for physicians. The guidance permits associate senior physicians in public hospitals to establish private clinics and open physician studios under their own names. It also encourages general practitioners to form teams with hospitals, fostering new productive forces and production relations. While promoting multi-site practice for physicians, pilot programs for nurses’ multi-site practice are also being explored.
★Shanghai Plans to Enact Legislation to Encourage On-Site First Aid
According to the Shanghai Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission, the Draft Regulations of Shanghai Municipality on Emergency Medical Services has been submitted to the 24th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress for deliberation. A major highlight of the draft isEncourage emergency on-site first aid; if such aid causes harm to the patient, compensation may be provided by the government upon determination through legal procedures.
The draft proposes to encourage citizens who have received training and possess first-aid skills to provide on-site emergency care to patients with critical and life-threatening conditions in accordance with standardized emergency response protocols; in locations equipped with emergency medical devices such as automated external defibrillators (AEDs), trained individuals are authorized to use these devices for emergency rescue. Meanwhile, on-site emergency rescue actions are protected by law.
The draft also specifies that transportation hubs such as rail transit stations, airports, and passenger transport terminals; densely populated venues including schools, sports stadiums, exhibition centers, cultural and entertainment venues, hotels, shopping malls, and tourist attractions; as well as construction sites and large industrial enterprises, shall be equipped with necessary first-aid devices and staff who are knowledgeable and skilled in their use. These venues are encouraged to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
The draft proposes that drivers and crew members of public transportation vehicles, school physical education teachers, security guards, tour guides, and users of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) shall participate in first aid knowledge and skills training organized by entities with training capabilities, such as the Red Cross Society and pre-hospital emergency care institutions. The Red Cross Society shall carry out popularization of first aid knowledge and organize citizens to participate in community-based first aid training, while residents’ committees and villagers’ committees shall cooperate in implementing universal education on community-based first aid.
——————————————Data——————————————
◆ China accounts for approximately 25% of the world's diabetic patients
Shenmin Medical Technology, in collaboration with iKang Group and Peking University First Hospital, released the "White Paper on Diabetes in Chinese Workplaces." The report indicates that China currently accounts for approximately 25% of the world's diabetes patients, with a growth rate of around 11%. However, the majority of patients remain undiagnosed and unaware of their condition, resulting in a consultation rate of only 40%. Unhealthy lifestyle habits, coupled with heavy work-related stress and excessive workload, are leading to an increasing incidence of chronic diseases among the working population.
The white paper’s analysis also revealed that, among the studied working population, the prevalence of diabetes was 3.6%, and the prevalence of prediabetes was 5.5%. Geographically, the prevalence was slightly lower in Central and South China, while it was higher in Northeast and Northwest China. In this regard, dietary habits likely played a more significant role than the level of economic development. Across different industries, government, public utilities, scientific research institutions, and educational institutions were identified as high-prevalence sectors for diabetes, diabetes with complications, and diabetes with comorbidities, warranting particular attention.
◆ WHO Calls for Action to Avert the Onset of a “Post-Antibiotic Era”
A new survey conducted by the World Health Organization for World Antibiotic Awareness Week reveals that public awareness in China regarding antibiotics and their use is alarmingly low: 61% of Chinese respondents believe that antibiotics can treat colds or influenza, completely disregarding the fact that antibiotics are ineffective against viruses.
◆ The global market for psoriasis therapeutics is projected to reach $9.02 billion in 2019, with biologics taking center stage
According to IMS Midas, a division of IQVIA (formerly IMS Health), the global market for psoriasis therapeutics reached $7.49 billion in 2014, marking substantial growth from $4.2 billion in 2010, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6% between 2010 and 2014. The top five products, including AbbVie’s Humira (adalimumab), accounted for 82% of the psoriasis treatment market.
It is estimated that the global market for psoriasis therapeutics will reach USD 9.02 billion in 2019, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8% from 2014 to 2019, primarily driven by high-priced biologics. However, as a series of patented biologics approach patent expiry in major markets such as the United States and Europe, the growth of the global psoriasis therapeutics market will be impacted by biosimilars.
——————————————New Technologies——————————————
● Novel wound dressings change color in response to infection
The University of Bath in the UK has unveiled a novel medical wound dressing that not only protects wounds but also visually alerts clinicians to bacterial infections through color changes.
As planned, researchers will further test the actual efficacy of the novel wound dressing on burn wounds.
● Scientists Invent Self-Healing Sensors, Bringing Electronic Skin One Step Closer
Chemical Engineers at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology Invent a Self-Healing Sensor Capable of Repairing Damage Within a Day, Holding Great Promise for the Field of Electronic Skin
The key to this technology is a novel synthetic polymer containing highly conductive electrodes and gold nanoparticles. Upon damage, it expands to fill voids, thereby preventing current interruption and ensuring the normal operation of the device.
●MIT Develops Bioabsorbable Sensors for Monitoring Vital Signs
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States have developed an ingestible sensor capable of monitoring vital signs, particularly data related to the human digestive system. Encased in a silicone capsule approximately the size of an almond, this sensor can monitor patients’ physiological data over either short-term or long-term periods.
R&D scientist Giovanni Traverso stated that he hopes these capsule sensors can remain in the body for 1–2 days.
——————————————Capital——————————————
