August 31st End of Non-Face-to-Face Medical Service Announced by Namanui Doctor
Government to Resume Non-Face-to-Face Medical Services from 15th as Part of Expansion Plan
Co-CEO Seon Jaewon: "Non-Face-to-Face Medical Service to Be Featured on Main Screen"
As the scope of non-face-to-face medical consultations has been significantly expanded, platform companies that were at a crossroads regarding their survival are now stretching their wings. The government's recent plan to expand the non-face-to-face medical consultation pilot project has removed the distinction between initial and follow-up visits for specific diseases during the pilot period, reducing inconvenience for both patients and doctors. However, since drug delivery services are still unavailable and opposition from doctors' and pharmacists' associations continues, many companies remain hesitant to enter the non-face-to-face medical consultation service market.
Namaneui Doctor, which suspended its non-face-to-face medical consultation operations as of August 30, has decided to resume the service starting from the 15th. Namaneui Doctor ranked second in the industry in terms of the number of non-face-to-face consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the scope of non-face-to-face consultations was narrowed mainly to follow-up patients from September, it shifted to a service platform for medical institution recommendations, information searches, and reservations.
Seon Jaewon, co-CEO of Namaneui Doctor, stated on the 5th, “From the 15th, we plan to prominently place the non-face-to-face medical consultation service on the platform’s main screen,” adding, “We will create new categories to enhance user convenience depending on cases such as whether the patient is within six months of an in-person consultation or if it is during vulnerable hours like nights and holidays.” Seon also added, “We judged that there could be sufficient demand for the government’s plan to revitalize non-face-to-face medical consultations.”
Dr. Now and Goodoc, which continue to provide non-face-to-face medical consultation services, expressed hope that this improvement plan will serve as an opportunity to activate the digital healthcare industry. They also plan to promote the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s non-face-to-face medical consultation pilot project supplementary guidelines to platform users to ensure compliance.
However, there are criticisms that the effectiveness is diminished due to the exclusion of drug delivery. A representative from the Remote Medical Industry Council pointed out, “Non-face-to-face consultations are sought because nearby hospitals and pharmacies are closed at night and on weekends, but it is contradictory that drug delivery is not possible.” Seon Jaewon also emphasized, “The lack of drug delivery may limit customer satisfaction.”
Despite the improvement plan, some companies are ending their non-face-to-face medical consultation services as scheduled, anticipating that traffic will not meet expectations. Dokdok, which started charging for hospital reception and reservation services in September, is a representative example. A representative from Vibros, the operator of Dokdok, said, “We have decided to terminate the non-face-to-face medical consultation service as of the 31st,” adding, “We judged that focusing on existing services is more appropriate.”
According to industry sources, among companies that have ended their non-face-to-face medical consultation businesses, none except Namaneui Doctor are known to plan to resume operations following this expansion plan. Even if non-face-to-face medical consultation services become active within a platform, it does not directly translate into profits. Opposition from doctors and pharmacists remains strong. Consequently, there is also anxiety that the government’s policy could change suddenly, like ‘flipping the palm.’
An industry insider said, “Many companies invested heavily in the early stages of non-face-to-face medical consultation services but had to shut down their businesses after the pilot project and seek other service avenues,” adding, “It is not easy to take the risk of reinvesting in non-face-to-face medical consultation services during an investment cooling period.”
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