This Guangzhou company has a strategy to help China’s state hospitals compete in the data economy
- Haici is helping China’s state hospitals transition to online platform service providers
- The Guangzhou-based company has won backing by Vertex Ventures China and other private equity groups
Haici Network Technology wants to help China’s state-run hospitals compete against online medical consultation and services platforms.
The Guangzhou-based company, founded five years ago, believes it can help stem the flow of doctors and patients defecting to Ping An Good Doctor, WeDoctor and other online platforms.
“Our platforms and software enable hospitals to provide more efficient and convenient services before, during and after hospital visits,” the 39-year-old founder and chief executive Min Neng told the Post at an interview on the sidelines of the China Healthcare Investment Conference.
Digitalisation is important for state hospitals because their revenues have been squeezed after Beijing capped the amount they can charge for dispensing drugs, as part of reforms to reduce treatment costs.
“If state hospitals can provide their own online services, it would help stem the number of days their doctors spent working in private sector clinics, lured with higher pay, greater work flexibility and other incentives,” said Best Ho executive director at Haici.
In April last year Beijing issued a circular encouraging hospitals to set up their own internet platforms to improve communications and outpatient care.
Beijing also sanctioned online follow-up consultations and medication dispensing for some common and chronic diseases, but stipulated that first time consultation must take place in clinics or hospitals if medication is prescribed.