Healthcare goes digital

FindDoc founder and CEO Ivan Ng addressed the webinar, explaining how his company’s application helps people find a doctor through a one-stop medical information and doctor appointment platform that provides Hong Kong residents with information on private doctors.

FindDoc joined with private practitioners in Hong Kong to establish a medical information and question-and-answer video platform called FindDocTV, which is available on YouTube. FindDoc also launched an online appointment function and video consultation service.

Over the past year the site attracted more than 1.7 million visitors seeking medical information amid the pandemic. Over 1,000 practices and 6,500 private doctors have joined FindDoc, with more than 30 clinics providing video consultation services. FindDoc also provides such functions as online payment and the delivery of medicines direct to patients' homes.

How do enterprises select start-ups for cooperation? Raymond Lam, Deputy General Manager of Omron Hong Kong Limited, said many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Hong Kong have their own unique technologies and networks and have the ability to cooperate and share resources.

Mr Lam said Omron’s blood pressure monitors have built a considerable market share and are effective in collecting data, but lacked a network of doctors – hence the cooperation with FindDoc to share resources and implement services. Believing that "one hand doesn't clap", Mr Lam said he often seeks cooperation with start-ups, and welcomes start-ups that reach out and discuss the possibility of cooperation.

Omron is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan and employs about 28,000 people worldwide. Mr Lam said the group's global revenue exceeded 655 billion yen (about HK$44.26 billion) in 2020, of which 19% came from the healthcare business, mainly through biometric sensing technology and providing healthcare products such as blood pressure monitors, ECG monitors and nebulizers.

Descamps. Technology was established in 2018, focusing on the development of spatial monitoring through artificial intelligence (AI) sensors and data analysis. Samuel Chan, co-founder and CEO of Descamps., said the company initially equipped hotels, restaurants and shopping malls, then moved on to elderly care as profits permitted the company to shoulder its social corporate responsibilities.

Mr Chan said Descamps.’ Ambient 16 device, developed and made in Hong Kong, fits in a box the size of the palm of a hand. Each sensor has a built-in chip which monitors 16 factors in the environment such as temperature, humidity and air pressure. An elderly person's location can be monitored and such factors as time spent on the toilet monitored to assess their condition.

AI capability lets the chip continuously "learn". For example, in addition to recognising the sound of the TV, the chip can now distinguish the sound of bathing and snoring. Different functions are expected in the future.

Mr Chan said Ambient 16 had no camera or recording functions, protecting the privacy of users. Data collection lets medical staff and caregivers understand the living conditions of the elderly and note subtle changes in order to render appropriate care. He added that the company will soon launch an "e-nose" which recognises certain smells, alerting it to behaviours such as hand washing.

Alex Wong, Head of Sales and Client Coverage of Business Banking at Hang Seng Bank, said business in Hong Kong had digitised rapidly during the pandemic and Hang Seng had been active in developing digital banking services. In 2021, the Bank has launched more than 250 digital solutions to provide customers with a full range of online and offline banking services on their mobile phones at any time.

Mr Wong said banks were well placed to boost the business of start-ups and SMEs. Working with FindDoc has shown him that business practices in the medical industry remain relatively traditional and there is potential for advancement. Medical practices use complex and expensive procurement procedures from suppliers and banks can help them improve their cost-effectiveness and enjoy more convenient services.

Banks can also help start-ups and SMEs connect with different customers and build an ecosystem. Mr Wong said banks often communicate closely with different types of customers, helping them to understand the development trends and demands in a particular industry, and then the two parties will jointly explore corresponding solutions. For example, Hang Seng often cooperates with start-ups to carry out proof-of-concept (POC) trials to help with the smooth launch of products or services.