When telehealth goes back to brick-and-mortar

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Covid-19 has led to a boom for any solution that helps people live their lives remotely. So it’s natural that telehealth startups, whose tech allows us to see a doctor from the safety and comfort of our homes, experienced a quick spurt at the start of the pandemic.

Putting a finger on the pulse of the industry, we’ve found that players in the space have expanded into overall wellness after growth previously tapered off. One company has even established physical clinics in its omnichannel strategy.

Today we look at:

• One telehealth startup’s current and future plans
• JD Health’s impending IPO
• Other newsy highlights, such as the latest twist in the TikTok US ban saga and AI-driven autonomous ships from Japan

Physical clinics in the telehealth industry? It’s more likely than you’d think

Covid-19 has sped up the development and adoption of telehealth in a big way. Besides offering users a safe and easy way to consult physicians, telehealth platforms could also be the solution to the lack of adequate medical services that plague those living in Asia’s rural areas.

This led to analysts being bullish on the global telemedicine market, which is projected to reach US$175 billion by 2026, up from US$45 billion last year. But despite this, the tailwind blowing behind startups like Doctor Anywhere (DA) has petered out, leading it to explore other strategies.

• Off-screen time: DA delivers prescriptions and medical certificates to patients and provides home-based health screening and vaccinations.
• A nurse’s touch: Much like its regional peer HaloDoc, DA has set up physical clinics in order to respond to early user feedback that indicated “a fair bit of distrust” toward the service, says DA CEO Lim Wai Mun. But sources say it is a pivot from an unworkable pure telehealth model. Only time will tell.
• A broader vision: DA is launching in the Philippines soon – after Vietnam and India – even though its CEO acknowledged that progress in its latest market, Malaysia, has been slow. What’s in store for the firm? Has it bitten off more than it could chew?

Read more: Telehealth startup Doctor Anywhere’s surprise move: Opening physical clinics

JD Health listing in Hong Kong

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