Alphabet Restructuring Driven by Healthcare Ambitions; Baidu Announces Medical Robot Development

[Today's Highlights]

○ Did Google’s restructuring into Alphabet stem from its healthcare business?
○ Baidu to Develop Medical Robots
○ SF Express partners with multiple hospitals in Shanghai to deliver traditional Chinese medicine via courier
○ Largest U.S. Pediatric Rehabilitation Institution Partners in China

1. Did Google’s Restructuring into Alphabet Stem from Its Healthcare Business?
On August 10, Google co-founder Larry Page announced the restructuring of Google and the establishment of a new parent company, Alphabet. Adopting a holding company structure, Alphabet positioned the new Google as a subsidiary to retain its core internet businesses, while entities such as Google X, Calico, Google Ventures, and Nest would operate independently as subsidiaries of Alphabet.



In his blog post, Page stated that in market terminology, “alpha” refers to substantial investments made in high-risk ventures with promising potential for success. He specifically highlighted Google’s dedicated healthcare initiatives, Life Sciences and Calico Labs. Currently, Alphabet’s subsidiaries—Google X, Calico, and Google Ventures—are all involved in the healthcare sector and operate independently, presenting a significant opportunity for value expansion.

Calico Labs is an independent biotechnology research and development company established by Google in 2013, focusing on extending lifespan and addressing health issues, particularly in the fields of aging and age-related diseases.

As Google’s research division, Google X has delved deeply into the healthcare sector, with one project focused on leveraging genetic data and biomarkers to understand human health issues at the molecular and genetic levels.

According to The Wall Street Journal, in 2014, Google Ventures’ investments in health and life sciences accounted for 36% of its total investments, reaching a peak. Furthermore, the fund has just invested in a CRISPR gene-editing platform.

Following the restructuring, Google CEO Larry Page will serve as CEO of Alphabet, while co-founder Sergey Brin will assume the role of President. Current Google Senior Vice President Sundar Pichai will become the CEO of the new Google. Starting in the fourth quarter of this year, Alphabet will become the publicly traded entity for Google, with all Google shares being directly converted into Alphabet shares.

2. Baidu to Develop Medical Robots
According to the U.S. tech news website Recod, Baidu will develop medical robots with voice support to assist in patient diagnosis and treatment.



Baidu has developed a voice translation app akin to an online doctor; patients need only speak symptom keywords, and the app will promptly provide diagnostic and treatment recommendations while locating the nearest medical specialist for the user.

Baidu’s advantage lies in its “scale,” with hundreds of millions of internet users serving as its foundation. The project, named “AskADoctor,” can assess 520 diseases, covering 90% of common conditions. The desktop version is currently available, and the mobile app will be launched shortly.

3. SF Express Partners with Multiple Hospitals in Shanghai to Deliver Traditional Chinese Medicine
Recently, SF Express has partnered with multiple hospitals in Shanghai to launch express delivery services for traditional Chinese medicine herbs, decocted herbal soups, and medical records.



Consumers need only pay the fee and then submit their prescription and completed shipping waybill to the SF Express counter located within the hospital, where the courier will charge the shipping fee on the spot based on weight.

“Express delivery of medications is more convenient for both consumers and hospitals,” said a staff member at the pharmacy of Shanghai Qunli Traditional Chinese Medicine Outpatient Department. Currently, over 200 people per day opt for SF Express’s traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) delivery service, with peak volumes exceeding 300 orders daily.

In response to concerns about potential mix-ups or contamination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) during courier delivery, the hospital stated that medications for each prescription undergo multiple reviews by licensed pharmacists, who verify the consistency among the courier slip, prescription, and dispensed drugs.

Additionally, SF Express has developed specialized packaging materials for pharmaceutical transportation: waterproof bags are used for dry herbal medicines, while cardboard boxes lined with EPE foam on the inner walls are employed to reinforce the transport of decocted herbal medicines.

SF Express has long been active in pharmaceutical logistics, launching its dedicated “Pharma Secure Delivery” series, which categorizes medications into ambient-temperature and temperature-controlled services, enabling nationwide delivery within 48 hours.

4. Largest Pediatric Rehabilitation Institution in the United States Partners with China
On August 12, the High-Level Summit on “Co-Creating a New Model of Services for Children with Special Needs in China” opened in Beijing. The event was jointly hosted by Beijing Changhe International Medical Investment Management Co., Ltd. and Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH), the largest pediatric rehabilitation institution in the United States.

More than 50 experts in the fields of child development and rehabilitation engaged in discussions on the current status of developmental-behavioral pediatrics and pediatric rehabilitation in China and the United States, drew upon international trends in relevant pediatric specialties, and shared CSH’s practical experience in delivering “patient- and family-centered” rehabilitation care.

At the forum, Beijing Changhe International Medical Investment Management Co., Ltd. entered into a long-term partnership with CSH to comprehensively introduce CSH’s medical technologies, operational processes, and management models.

With a 124-year history, Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Jersey, USA, is the largest pediatric rehabilitation institution in the nation. CSH specializes in systematic pediatric rehabilitation services and developmental-behavioral pediatrics, rather than short-term emergency care. It has been ranked among the “Best Children’s Hospitals” nationwide and manages the sixth-largest charitable foundation in the United States.