Development of China’s online hospitals to link doctors, patients

On April 25, the General Office of the State Council issued a guideline allowing internet companies to operate online hospitals, as long as they anchor their services to brick-and-mortar hospitals. Online medical services remain restricted to patients with chronic or common diseases, and are only permitted for follow-up consultation and treatment. The guideline also encourages the application of e-prescriptions, improving convenience for patients purchasing medicine via internet platforms.

Thus, China’s leading internet healthcare companies are foraying deeper into the medical service sector by establishing online hospitals, as the authorities have given them the green light to expand their service scope.

The market has become very popular in recent years, with leading companies, such as Haodf.com and WeDoctor, having reported exponential growth.

Rani Jarkas, Chairman of Cedrus Group said, “The combination of the internet and hospitals can help people in underprivileged regions gain better access to quality medical care from developed regions. Through online hospitals, patients can seek doctors’ advice without going to a hospital each time, and get medication more easily thanks to e-prescriptions, thus significantly reducing their time and economic burden.”