Ayala Corp.’s (AC) healthcare unit and Globe Telecom, Inc. will soon offer their services in a single mobile health app called “HealthNow,” which they plan to launch in the next 30 days.
In a recent online interview with BusinessWorld, Globe Telecom President and Chief Executive Officer Ernest L. Cu noted the pandemic forces people to shift to digital platforms to access healthcare services.
“Most recently, Ayala Corp. and their Ayala Health (Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc.) or AC Health, and Globe had come together to create HealthNow,” he said.
“HealthNow is an app we will be launching where you will be able to access all AC Health and Globe services under one umbrella. This one allows you to consult, schedule labs, even be visited by a doctor, and have all records be stored and accessible to a healthcare professional all in one place,” Mr. Cu added.
To recall, AC Health launched in April a telemedicine website called HealthNow.ph in partnership with Globe Telecom’s 917 Ventures. It is handled by AC Health’s technology arm Vigos and allows people to digitally get in touch with a pool of about 80 doctors every day from Healthway and FamilyDoc.
The HealthNow website is currently accessible for free.
Mr. Cu said the mobile app version of HealthNow.ph will be operational “in the next 30 days.”
“We are coming up with more of these types of services that actually lend themselves well to the emerging habits of the Filipino consumer,” he added.
AC Health is one of AC’s newest investments which it projects as a long-term value driver to the company. Its primary businesses are in real estate, banking, telecommunications, power and water.
Globe has said the coronavirus pandemic had brought an increase in demand for its telemedicine service in May.
“On increase in consultations, it did by over 450% in May as compared to January,” Globe said in a recent statement.
Globe has been pushing for telemedicine via KonsultaMD, an affiliate of 917Ventures.
QualiMed Health Network, owned and operated by Mercado General Hospital, Inc., in partnership with Ayala Land, Inc., has teamed up with KonsultaMD to enable its telemedicine service called TeleCheQ.
According to Globe, it is currently working on another partnership. — Arjay L. Balinbin
