Practo, an Indian digital healthcare platform, has launched its services in the United Arab Emirates.

Users in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah can now book appointments with verified doctors and access patient reviews to aid decision-making.

With over 17 years of experience in healthcare technology, Practo has listed more than 31,000 doctors and 3,000 healthcare facilities in the UAE. The platform currently has 50,000 monthly active users in the region.

Practo offers a discovery platform for finding healthcare providers, instant appointment booking, and access to patient reviews across various specialties. These specialties include dentistry, dermatology, gynecology, and psychiatry.

Early partners on the platform include e-Kaya Skin Clinic, Sulaiman Habib Hospital, and Micris Dental.

🔗 Source: Practo

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Practo’s evolution demonstrates the profit potential in healthcare digitization

Practo’s UAE expansion follows a 17-year journey from a problem-based startup to a profitable healthcare platform, showing how addressing specific healthcare gaps can lead to sustainable growth.

The company was founded in 2008 when co-founder Shashank ND experienced difficulties accessing medical records for a family member’s surgery, illustrating how personal challenges can spark healthcare innovations 1.

This journey was fueled by significant venture capital, $180 million across multiple rounds including a $90 million Series C (2015) and $55 million Series D (2017), demonstrating investor confidence in healthcare digitization 2.

Their announcement of profitability in FY24 represents a significant milestone, as many health tech startups prioritize geographic expansion over immediate profitability during their growth phase 3.

This progression from addressing a specific pain point (medical records access) to building a comprehensive platform used by 400+ million users illustrates the scalability of digital healthcare solutions when they solve fundamental accessibility problems.

2️⃣ The UAE represents a strategic market in the global telehealth expansion

Practo’s entry into the UAE aligns with broader industry trends, as the global telehealth market is projected to grow from $83.5 billion in 2022 to $513.85 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 25.5% 4.

The UAE specifically is experiencing a double-digit CAGR in health tech adoption driven by increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases and growing demand for specialized healthcare services 5.