Three Chinese Digital Health Startups Raise Nearly RMB 300 Million in Combined Funding

Events & Perspectives

————————————————————————————————

At 6 a.m. Beijing time on September 18, the annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony arrived!

This year, the Biology Prize left the deepest impression on the editor. Bruno Grossi from the University of Chile and his colleagues discovered that when a tail is attached to chickens, their gait closely resembles that of dinosaurs.

Researchers stated that the findings support a previous hypothesis: namely, that a gradual shift in the center of mass led to a more crouched hindlimb posture, and that during the evolution of theropod dinosaurs, limb locomotion transitioned from hip-driven to knee-driven.

The editor wants to ask: Have you guys ever calculated the psychological shadow area of the chicken at this moment...

Of course, this award is quite formal. It is primarily bestowed upon research that “first makes people laugh, then makes them think.” Many of its judges are genuine Nobel laureates. Some Ig Nobel Prize winners have subsequently gone on to receive actual Nobel Prizes.

The purpose is to pay tribute to those extraordinary individuals, to honor imagination, and to inspire public interest in the fields of science, medicine, and technology.

Next, join VCBeat in paying tribute to the innovators of internet healthcare.

First, a group of doctors who have left the public system to practice independently.

Last week,Baidu Doctor’s Direct Access Number Officially Launches, with Renowned Freelance Physicians Including Yu Ying, Zhang Qiang, Zhu Yan, and Gong Xiaoming Among the First to JoinIn the future, users can directly access doctors’ personal pages by entering “@” followed by the doctor’s name in the Baidu App.

Baidu Doctor Direct Access Number is another new internet healthcare product launched by Baidu Health following “Baidu Doctor.” It not only provides patients and doctors with more channels for communication but also helps doctors quickly establish their personal brands, enabling patients who truly need their services to find them promptly.

As the demonstration effect of renowned physicians such as Yu Ying, Zhang Qiang, Zhu Yan, and Gong Xiaoming joining these platforms spreads, it is also expected to spark a new wave of integrating physicians’ independent practice with internet healthcare.

Second, it is a pioneer deeply engaged in the field of internet healthcare.

Following the announcement of the establishment of the “WeDoctor” Group, its in-depth cooperation with Fosun Pharma, and the launch of the Wuzhen Internet Hospital,Guahao.com Unveils Its Fourth Major Move—Announces Strategic Cooperation Agreement with San Ti Group Co., Ltd., China’s Largest Domestic Housekeeping Conglomerate, in Hangzhou; Both Parties Will Jointly Establish Two Service Platforms: “San Ti Health” and “WeDoctor 365.”

“Santi Health” will provide patients with a one-stop service package for out-of-area medical visits (or referrals), including patient navigation, clinical accompaniment, home care, health consultation, and related transportation and accommodation. The front end of “Santi Health” interfaces with the medical visit (or referral) demands on the Guahao.com platform, while its back-end operations integrate with Santi Group’s offline home services. This achieves a complete online-to-offline (O2O) closed loop for healthcare services.

“WeDoctor 365” will serve as the operator of the Zhejiang Health Zone on Guahao.com, responsible for product planning, design and packaging, technology development, and operational promotion of the zone and other services, thereby serving the people of Zhejiang by providing high-quality, convenient medical services.

Dingdang Kuaiyao Partners with Ele.me, Strategic Cooperation Between Pharmaceuticals and Food Delivery O2O Further Upgraded.

Last week, Dingdang Kuaiyao announced a strategic partnership with Ele.me. This marks another significant strategic move following its collaborations with platforms such as Chunyu Doctor, Meituan Waimai, Dianping, Baidu Waimai, and 360 Navigation, thereby completing its horizontal integration across the three major food delivery platforms. With this development, the strategic alliance between pharmaceutical O2O and food delivery O2O has been further elevated. Pharmaceutical e-commerce companies are breaking away from isolated operations and increasingly joining forces with lifestyle consumption platforms to target high-net-worth white-collar professionals.

If the relationship between the two sectors deepens further, will it be possible to rapidly unlock the pharmaceutical O2O market and deliver tangible, high-quality services to users? Only time will tell.

Indian Healthcare Startup Practo Acquires Medical Information Management Tool for $12 Million, Aiming for Global Expansion.

Indian Healthcare StartupPractoAnnounced the $12 million acquisition of Indian healthcare information management tool Insta Health Solutions last week.

Insta can automate processes such as scheduling, registration, payment, electronic medical records, ward and bed management, diagnostics, and insurance. Meanwhile, it also facilitates the integration of laboratory equipment and supports the management of operating rooms, pharmacies, and inventory.

Beyond the product itself, this acquisition has also brought Practo, which is in full expansion mode, a global customer base and an international team. Practo’s flagship product is a search tool that helps patients find doctors and schedule appointments. The acquisition also provides Practo with access to physician data from Insta’s clinic database.

According to VCBeat, Practo had previously acquired FitHo.(A medical prevention application that provides nutrition and exercise recommendations)and Genii(A business outsourcing company that helps e-commerce, financial firms, and media organizations build online portals).

Shashank ND, founder of Practo, stated, “This is our third acquisition aimed at simplifying and digitizing global healthcare, following repeated evaluations. We seek to transform the global healthcare system by digitizing medical records, reducing queues and wait times, and streamlining payment processes, thereby delivering a better consultation experience for consumers.”

Another group with distinct characteristics is the cross-industry players.

Let’s take a look at the “restless players” from last week.

Alibaba Cloud Establishes the “Cloud-Based Peace of Mind” Alliance.

Last week,Alibaba Cloud, Shenzhen Zhongruiqi, and Hangzhou Jinwei Health announced that the three parties will collaborate to establish the “Cloud-Based Peace of Mind” Alliance.By collaborating with community hospitals, tertiary general hospitals, medical hardware manufacturers, health and wellness apps, physical examination centers, and healthcare analytics model providers, we aggregate and integrate dispersed health and medical data with patients’ informed consent and authorization, aiming to achieve data-driven precision medicine.

Taking the treatment of heart disease as an example, by connecting the “Haopengyou” ECG device from the “Cloud Peace of Mind” alliance to the human body and linking it with the “Haopengyou ECG” app, users can view their own ECG data. Meanwhile, the data is synchronized with hospitals, allowing doctors or emergency centers to intervene in advance if abnormalities are detected. Wang Yuansi, founder of Zhongruiqi, stated, “This product is developed directly for individual users and provides professional medical care services.” In other words, each user effectively has a private doctor.

Walgreens has also entered the pharmaceutical O2O market, offering prescription drug delivery.

Walgreens, the largest pharmacy chain in the United States, has recently launched its “One-Hour Medication Delivery” service.Its primary model involves a partnership with the third-party delivery company Postmates, with the service being rolled out at Walgreens and its subsidiary brand, Duane Reade. Although Postmates has previously collaborated with merchants such as 7-Eleven convenience stores, those efforts focused mainly on food delivery; this marks its first foray into pharmaceutical delivery.

According to a comparative analysis, Walgreens’ newly launched “One-Hour Prescription Delivery” service differs from China’s pharmaceutical O2O model in five key aspects:

1. In China, pharmaceutical O2O companies primarily refer to those specializing in home delivery services for medications, such as Yaogeli and Kuaifang Songyao.


2. Walgreens relies on third-party delivery, whereas domestic pharmaceutical O2O companies generally adopt in-house delivery teams stationed at pharmacies.


3. Walgreens’ service primarily focuses on prescription drug delivery, supplemented by the delivery of daily necessities.


4. Prescription medications can be delivered.


5. Express Delivery Fee: $4.99 per order.

Peking Union Medical College Hospital Releases Official Hospital App.

Last week, Peking Union Medical College Hospital officially launched its official mobile app. Developed under the hospital’s leadership, this app enables patients’ family members to schedule appointments with just a few taps, eliminating the need to travel to the hospital in person.

Patients can search for departments or physicians to query and schedule outpatient appointments with any doctor at Peking Union Medical College Hospital within the next seven days. The appointment is confirmed upon completion of online payment via Alipay. The fee is identical to that of other registration methods, with no additional charges. On the day of the visit, patients not covered by Beijing Medical Insurance may proceed directly to the consultation room, while those enrolled in Beijing Medical Insurance must first obtain their insurance registration slip at the service window before proceeding to their appointment.

In addition to appointment registration, the platform offers hospital navigation, a health encyclopedia, service guides, health checkup packages, specialist profiles, and information dissemination. A series of additional features will be rolled out in the future, including access to laboratory test results, health checkup reports, and billing inquiries, as well as waiting queue notifications, symptom-based triage, and health knowledge resources. The ultimate goal is to facilitate direct, two-way interaction between patients and physicians.

In the future, the hospital will also launch a WeChat Official Account to achieve a comprehensive migration from its app, thereby providing users with more diverse and open access points. Payment options will expand beyond Alipay to include WeChat Pay, UnionPay, and other methods.

Shanghai Deji Hospital provides an open practice platform for "physician groups."

Shanghai Deji Hospital, funded and established by the Columbia University Foundation in the United States, recently announced the opening of its medical platform and intensive care unit (ICU) platform, welcoming all forms of physician organizations and individual physicians to engage in “multi-site practice.”

Due to policy factors, most practice platforms currently collaborating with physician groups are private hospitals. Expanding the range of medical institutions serving as practice platforms—particularly attracting public hospitals to join—appears unrealistic at present, given that the founders of most physician groups still maintain employment affiliations with hospitals.

Although more than 20 physician groups were newly established in 2015 alone, and high-profile investments in groups such as “Dajia Yilian” and the Zhang Qiang Physician Group have provided a significant boost to other start-up physician groups, the true development of physician groups still faces many unavoidable challenges, including the transition from multi-site practice to independent private practice.

However, regardless of how the future unfolds, this hospital is the first in China to publicly announce that it will provide an open practice platform and surgical support for “physician groups,” a move that truly demonstrates commendable courage.

Another Briefing:Cleveland Clinic Listed by CMS as “Most Dangerous Hospital”

Yes, you read that right.

Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated inspections of hospital laboratory management practices, with Cleveland Clinic’s Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights selected as one of the sites under review. In March, during its inspection of this facility, CMS identified six serious deficiencies at Cleveland Clinic and immediately placed it on the “most dangerous hospitals” blacklist. This designation means that it has been labeled as the “least suitable hospital for patient care” and the “hospital with the poorest patient safety record.”

In early September, the hospital proactively announced the suspension of a batch of experimental projects and pledged to work with CMS to jointly address these issues. Subsequently, Cleveland Clinic immediately dismissed the director of Mount Hospital’s laboratory, appointed a new head, and mandated that staff undergo standardized training. Insiders stated that Cleveland Clinic’s penalty was well-deserved, attributing the decline primarily to lax management by senior executives, a culture of impunity, and diminished professional conscientiousness among medical personnel.

See? Our ancestors were right,

VCBeat Exclusive

————————————————————————————————

• Come, join VCBeat in studying at Legend Star!


• [Overseas Case Study] How Did Traditional Retailer CVS Health Transform into a Leader in Internet Innovation?


• UCLA Medical Center’s Journey in Digital Health


• Multiple Accelerators Launch New Recruitment Rounds; Doctor-Focused Tool Projects Gain Strong Interest


• Why Do Users Abandon Your App?


• Pulse Check: Making Traditional Chinese Medicine a Lifestyle


• Gong Xiaoming: An OB-GYN’s Journey in Internet Healthcare Entrepreneurship


• [Cardiovascular Series Report 11] Zhongwei Laikang: B2B Is to Better Serve B2C


• VB Group Interview No. 9 | Xie Yongquan from Fuwai Hospital: A Cardiac Surgeon’s Perspective on Internet Healthcare


• Five “Star” Companies That Could Disrupt Telemedicine


• A Powerful Tool for Drug R&D: Genetic Data


• Interpretation of Hot English Terms in Internet Healthcare:Biobank/Body Area Network

Healthcare Reform

————————————————————————————————

★Beijing Issues "Opinions on Further Strengthening Preferential Treatment for the Elderly in Beijing"
The Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau released the "Opinions on Further Strengthening Preferential Treatment for the Elderly in Beijing," jointly issued by 27 departments,Eligible elderly residents in Beijing can now enjoy preferential policies that have expanded from the previous nine items to 44 items across six major categories, including government services, healthcare, transportation, cultural and leisure activities, and rights protection services.The Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau announced that within three months, all relevant departments will formulate detailed implementation rules and release them to the public.

It is reported that elderly residents from other provinces who have resided in Beijing for at least six months are eligible to apply for the Beijing Senior Citizen Preference Card. Prior to the issuance of the Beijing Tong–Pension and Disability Assistance Card, seniors may use either the Beijing Senior Citizen Preference Card or the Beijing Senior Citizen Preference Certificate to access relevant preferential benefits.

In addition, elderly residents in Beijing can also enjoy subsidies for home-based elderly care and services such as door-to-door collection of water and electricity bills. Those aged 80 and above are eligible for free notarization of wills.

★No Additional Public Hospital Beds to Be Added Within the Fifth Ring Road
Beijing Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission announced,No additional beds will be added to public general hospitals within the Fifth Ring Road. In Dongcheng and Xicheng Districts, no new medical institutions with inpatient beds will be approved. Within the Fifth Ring Road in Chaoyang, Haidian, Fengtai, and Shijingshan Districts, no increase in the total number of beds in government-run general medical institutions will be approved.However, the clinic is not within the scope of control.

According to the notice, the establishment of clinics in Beijing is not subject to planning and layout restrictions and shall be governed by market-oriented regulation. The health and family planning commissions of all districts and counties shall promptly adjust relevant policies within their respective jurisdictions, shall not impose layout restrictions on clinics in documents such as healthcare development plans, and shall not suspend the acceptance of applications for clinic establishment due to reasons such as plan revisions.

★Pediatric Drugs to Be Available for Online Procurement
The National Health and Family Planning Commission issued the “Notice on Further Strengthening the Procurement and Use of Pediatric Medications in Medical Institutions,” which states that local authorities may reasonably determine the scope, specific dosage forms, and specifications of medications for their respective regions by referring to the selection principles and model drugs for non-patented medicines in obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics specialties published by industry associations and academic societies commissioned by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, and proceed with direct online procurement.

Deng Yong, a lecturer at the Health Law Research Center of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, pointed out that China has weak capabilities in pediatric drug research and development (R&D), with limited government funding and policy support. The high cost of developing pediatric medications discourages many enterprises from engaging in such efforts. The establishment of a “green channel” aims to encourage companies, enhance pediatric drug R&D capabilities, and increase the variety of available pediatric medications.

However, relying solely on online procurement is merely a palliative measure; strengthening the research and development of pediatric drugs is the key.

★Tertiary hospitals primarily admit patients with acute and critical conditions, as well as complex and refractory diseases.
Recently, the National Health and Family Planning Commission forwarded the "Guiding Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Promoting the Construction of a Tiered Diagnosis and Treatment System,"It is clearly specified that urban tertiary hospitals primarily provide diagnosis and treatment services for acute, critical, and severe conditions as well as complex and refractory diseases, while urban secondary hospitals mainly accept patients referred from tertiary hospitals who are in the recovery phase of acute illnesses, the postoperative recovery phase, or the stable phase of critical conditions.County-level hospitals primarily provide diagnosis and treatment for common and frequently occurring diseases within the county, emergency care for critically ill patients, and referral services for complex and difficult cases to higher-level institutions. They also fulfill the role of general practitioners as “gatekeepers” of resident health, aiming to achieve a target of 2 to 3 qualified general practitioners per 10,000 residents in both urban and rural areas.

Data

————————————————————————————————

●Future Predictions for Wearable Devices
Recently, Tencent Technology released a “Wearable Device Status Report,” examining the launches of Apple Watch and Android Wear and the impact these “pioneers” have had on the broader market. Through comparative analysis and research, the report offers three key predictions regarding the future of Apple, Android, and other wearable devices.

• Prediction 1: Undoubtedly, iOS will introduce better wearable devices over time.


• Prediction 2: Consumers may embrace other new wearable devices.


• Prediction 3: Most likely, Samsung is attempting to “Apple-ize” itself.

●IDC: Global Wearable Device Market Analysis
IDC Releases Report, global wearable device shipments will reach 76.1 million units this year, representing a 163.6% increase compared to 28.9 million units in 2014.IDC stated that the growth of global wearable devices was mainly driven by the increase in the number of manufacturers, the diversification of device types, improved user experience, and declining prices. It is projected that global wearable device shipments will reach 173.4 million units by 2019, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.9%.

By platform, watchOS devices (Apple Watch smartwatches) are projected to reach 13.9 million units in shipments this year, capturing a 58.3% market share. In 2019, shipments reached 40.3 million units, with a market share of 47.4%.

Android/Android Wear devices are projected to reach 4.1 million units in shipments this year, capturing a 17.4% market share. By 2019, shipments are expected to surge to 32.6 million units, with a market share of 38.4%.

In addition, Pebble OS devices are projected to reach 2.1 million units in shipments this year, capturing an 8.7% market share. In 2019, shipments are expected to reach 2.6 million units, with a market share of 3.1%. Samsung Tizen devices are projected to reach 1.6 million units in shipments this year, accounting for a 6.7% market share. In 2019, shipments are expected to reach 1.8 million units, with a market share of 2.2%.

●eMarketer: Smartphone Penetration Rate in China Reached 55% in 2015
eMarketer predicts that 38.6% of Chinese people will own and use #smartphones# this year. Although the penetration rate is relatively low, the absolute number is substantial, reaching approximately 525.8 million, which exceeds the number of smartphone users in any other country. Moreover, these smartphone users are predominantly concentrated in urban areas of China.

It is also projected that Chinese advertisers will spend $14 billion on mobile advertising this year, with the primary audience being urban residents.

●Digital Healthcare Market to Reach 700 Billion in 2020
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) released a report titled “The Transformation of China’s Digital Healthcare Market,” stating thatChina’s digital healthcare industry is on the verge of taking off, with spending on digital healthcare services and e-commerce projected to surge from RMB 20 billion in 2014 to RMB 700 billion by 2020.

The report projects that China’s spending on digital healthcare services and e-commerce will surge from RMB 20 billion in 2014 to RMB 700 billion by 2020. The transformation of the digital healthcare market will profoundly reshape China’s healthcare system. Its impact is evident across multiple dimensions, including patient diagnosis, treatment, and management; physicians’ work practices; hospital operational models; the supply and utilization of pharmaceuticals and medical devices; and the product structures and service delivery models of insurance institutions. For organizations and enterprises competing at various stages of the value chain, the digital era demands innovative thinking and active exploration of new business models.

●US Supercomputers Can Predict Death with 96% Accuracy
According to foreign media reports, researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, USA, have developed a supercomputer system that reportedly predicts patient mortality with an accuracy rate of up to 96%.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center can connect patient monitors to its supercomputer system, enabling more accurate diagnoses than those made by human physicians. This supercomputer is loaded with data from over 250,000 patients spanning the past 30 years, forming a specialized database to help physicians make faster diagnoses.

This supercomputer system collects patient data every three minutes, including various measurements ranging from oxygen levels to blood pressure. By analyzing the data, the computer can determine whether a patient is at risk.

●ADI: The global number of dementia patients in 2050 will be approximately three times the current figure
Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) released the World Alzheimer Report 2015.

The report estimates the number of dementia patients worldwide:Currently, there are approximately 47 million people worldwide living with dementia, with 10 million new cases diagnosed each year. More concerningly, the number of dementia patients is projected to triple by 2050, exceeding 130 million.The prevalence of dementia is expected to increase most significantly in low- and middle-income countries.

Alzheimer’s Disease International predicts that between 2015 and 2050, the incidence of dementia will increase by 116% in high-income countries, by 223% in lower-middle-income countries, and most rapidly in low-income countries, where the increase will be twice that of high-income countries, reaching 264%.

The new report package evaluates per capita costs at three levels: direct medical expenses incurred, direct social care costs (e.g., home care costs), and non-paid costs (informal family care).

Globally, the total cost of dementia care in 2015 was estimated at $818 billion, an increase of $214 billion compared with 2010. However, over the past five years, there has been little change in the distribution of dementia-related costs.

Although the majority of individuals with dementia reside in low- and middle-income countries, high-income countries account for more than 90% of global total care costs. With the projected increase in prevalence, global expenditure on dementia is estimated to exceed $1 trillion by 2030.

New Technologies

————————————————————————————————

●Mini Implants: Capable of Eliminating Circulating Cancer Cells in the Body
A research team at Northwestern University in the United States has developed a miniaturized implant, approximately 5 millimeters in diameter, that can be implanted beneath the abdominal fat layer or under the skin. The implant itself is made of a porous material widely used in various medical devices and is loaded with a signaling molecule called CCL22. These signaling molecules attract immune cells and cause them to accumulate on the porous material. Subsequently, these immune cells are able to recruit rare, nearly undetectable circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and trap them within the tiny pores of the “sponge-like material.”

However, this new implant has so far only been tested in mice with breast cancer. “Compared with mice that did not receive the implant, those implanted with it showed a significantly reduced risk of developing pulmonary diseases,” the researchers stated.

●New Zealand-Based Chinese Doctor Develops App to Address Language Barriers in Healthcare

The “Listen Please” app system, developed by Dr. Janet Liang in Auckland, New Zealand, has entered the trial phase. This app helps patients with limited English proficiency communicate more effectively with healthcare providers and does not require an internet connection.

Janet Liang is an intensive care specialist at North Shore Hospital in Auckland. Over the past several years, she has been dedicated to developing and refining the “Listen Please” app system. Today,This application has been piloted in the Waitemata region and offers services in five non-English languages: Samoan, Tongan, Cantonese, Korean, and Mandarin.

●New Blood Test Technology Enables More Efficient Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

Imperial College London recently released research findings stating that a newly developed blood test technology has demonstrated more efficient diagnosis of lung cancer in experiments. The entire testing process is simpler and more cost-effective than traditional methods, and its implementation would aid in cancer prevention and treatment.

Researchers stated that although the experiment focused solely on lung cancer, their analysis revealed that other types of cancer also exhibit similar genetic mutation profiles, suggesting that this blood test could be used for a broader range of cancer diagnoses in the future.

Capital

————————————————————————————————