Online medical services gain popularity in China
07-Oct-14, China Daily
Online health is shaping up to be a hot new industry in China, as an increasing number of hospitals begin providing cyber services.
According to Alibaba, as of October a total of 15 hospitals across China have joined the "Future Hospital" scheme initiated by the tech giant's third-party online payment platform Alipay four months ago.
"Future Hospital" is a mobile medical treatment strategy expected to help hospitals improve operating efficiency and optimize the deployment of medical resources. The scheme has allowed medical institutions to access Alipay's account system, mobile platform, payment and financial solutions, cloud computing and big data platforms.
More than 10,000 patients seek the virtual services every day, including registration and medical payment, largely shortening the typically time-consuming process in hospitals, said Wang Lijuan, general manager of Alibaba's small and micro business financial service group.