Three Philippine companies have come together to deliver the largest healthtech play in the country, aiming to provide accessible healthcare to Filipinos through a one-stop health superapp.

Globe Capital Venture Holdings, Inc. (917Ventures), the corporate venture builder of the Globe Group, Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC Health),the healthcare portfolio arm of the Ayala Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vigos Ventures, Inc., and Salud Interactiva S.A. DE C.V. have agreed to the reorganization of Global Telehealth Inc. (KonsultaMD), HealthNow, Inc. (HealthNow) and APPPPS Partners, Inc. (AIDE) to combine their respective applications in one superapp.

With a vision to uplift the healthcare journey of every Filipino, the deal combines three market-leading telehealth applications – KonsultaMD, which serves teleconsultations, HealthNow, which serves medicine deliveries, and AIDE which serves laboratory tests and home care – into one full service health superapp, the new KonsultaMD. Altogether, the companies have an existing user base of over 2 million.

The full service health superapp aims to go live by the first quarter of 2023.

To date, KonsultaMD is already the dominant player in teleconsultations with over one million members and a retail network of over 50,000 outlets.

Over the past two years, HealthNow and AIDE have emerged as critical players in the AC Health ecosystem, growing its base to over 1M registered users.

Amidst lockdowns, HealthNow enabled continued access to various services including medicine deliveries and teleconsultation services already powered by KonsultaMD. HealthNow was also instrumental in AC Health’s COVIDShield, the largest private sector-led COVID-19 vaccine administration program in the country, providing a single platform where patients could book their vaccinations and schedule post-vaccination consults.

AIDE has likewise continued to support patients through the pandemic by enabling access to key home healthcare services including laboratory and diagnostics.

“By combining the strengths of each of the three entities, I am excited to see the new KonsultaMD support AC Health’s vision of an integrated healthcare ecosystem,” said Paolo Borromeo, President and CEO of AC Health.

“This combined digital team, supplemented by the network of services from AC Health, allows us all to be in a better position to provide much-needed access to quality healthcare services and medicines across the country, accelerating our goal of touching the lives of 1 in 5 Filipinos by 2030,” Borromeo added.

Meanwhile, KonsultaMD has grown to be the most visible brand in the Philippine healthtech space. It has established several partnerships to make health services accessible to all market segments. Its services are available via Globe mobile and broadband postpaid plans, as well as prepaid offers. It is also in 60+ superapps and FMCG products and in the Huawei Vision S TV.

“This is a very important step for us to further grow KonsultaMD. We have long experienced the challenges and difficulties of healthcare in the Philippines and we intend to address those challenges. Our ambition is to democratize health services, making it as easily available and affordable to every Filipino regardless of where you are in the country,” said Vince Yamat, 917Ventures Managing Director.

Cholo Tagaysay, who has presided over KonsultaMD the past two years will be the CEO of the consolidated entity.

“Consultations are at the top of the funnel. Consultations generate prescriptions which in turn generate lab requests. Now, we can fulfill all of these. We are a one-stop-shop for all your health needs,” said Tagaysay.

Beia Latay, who has served as HealthNow CEO over the past two years, will be COO of the new KonsultaMD.

“Our synergy creates a complete and simplified healthcare experience, spanning home, in-clinic and hospital,” said Latay.

Redefining the healthcare experience is a shared mission between AC Health and 917Ventures. By combining AC Health’s multi-channel care delivery network, and 917Ventures’ drive for continuous innovation through digital technology, Filipinos can expect to access healthcare services in a much more powerful, end-to-end, and seamless manner extending to both digital and brick-and-mortar touchpoints.

917Ventures  offers  various  services  in   fintech,  edutech,  adtech,  and ecommerce, among others.

Technology is here to stay and set to play a vital role in the business and economy not just this time of the pandemic, but more so during the post-pandemic scenario.

From December 7-11, the World Fintech Festival (WFF) the much anticipated will be bringing together illustrious personalities like Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, Eric Yuan, and PH business tech leaders UnionBank Vice-Chairman Tito Ortiz, Lazada President and CEO Ray Alimurung in the same virtual convention and more.

While it will be conducted virtually, the WFF-Philippines is the globalized version of the Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF), the most prestigious event in the fintech industry which in 2019 drew 60,000 participants from 140 countries, including heads of state, policymakers, and financial and technology (fintech) leaders.

Organized by Geiser-Maclang Communications Inc. (GMCI), in partnership with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the SFF, the WFF-Philippines is the first in the country.

At the recent WFF-Philippines press conference, SFF and WFF CFO Sopnendu Mohanty explained the importance of connecting local businesses with their global colleagues. He said, “The digital platform is the first step for these entrepreneurs to succeed. The whole set of tech enables services for the MSMEs to grow. That’s the new world.”

WFF Philippines Convenor and GeiserMaclang Co-founder Amor Maclang, who will also be a speaker, emphasized that “The WFF-Philippines is the beginning of a movement to call the industry players and other stakeholders to digitize our country, especially using fintech, towards progress and development, using a whole-of-nation approach, whole-of-government approach. The past few years have seen an unprecedented reverse diaspora of the best and brightest technology players choosing to domicile in the Philippines. It is our time to shine.”

”From the international arena, leading the discussion on how to leverage game-changing trends in fintech are legends like Bill Gates, the Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Eric Yuan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Zoom Video Communications, Inc.; Akon, Founder of Akoin; NASDAQ President and CEO Adrena Friedman; Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella; Nandan Nikelani, Infosys Co-founder and Chairman; and Dan Schulman, President and CEO of Paypal, just for a start.

NASDAQ President and CEO Adrena Friedman will talk about how technology is shaping the future of capital markets. NASDAQ, a global electronic marketplace, provides hundreds of businesses around the world the opportunity to invest in or trade among listed companies.

Like NASDAQ, cryptocurrency company Akoin empowers both ends of the marketplace from buyers to sellers. Founded by Senegalese-American star and philanthropist Akon, it bridges the gap between international investors and Africa’s entrepreneurs struggling against inflation. The culmination is a $6 billion futuristic city at the heart of Senegal, Africa. 

BlackRock’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO Larry Fink will reveal a global CEO’s perspective on leadership, inclusion, and diversity. With a total of $7.4 trillion in assets under management, his 2018 letter, sent to CEOs of the companies BlackRock has invested in, encouraged them to make positive societal contributions.

Joining the WFF-Philippines to cement the industry’s digital global footprint are the country’s leading tech disruptors who have created massive ripples of change within their industries.

WFF’s first day will banner how digitization can transform a nation. The luminaries in the different panels include Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon; and Commissioner Dennis Funa of the Philippine Insurance Life Commission.

The second day’s forums will center on digitizing the country and the rise of e-commerce. Speakers include Lazada President and CEO Rey Alimurung and GreatDeals CEO Steven Sy.

Halfway through the convention, hot topics like financial inclusion, data privacy, and the need for a regulatory framework shall be discussed by speakers Commissioner Raymund Liboro of the National Privacy Commission; Anton Bonifacio, Chief Information Officer of Globe; Rajan ‘Piku’ Uttamchandani, Esquire Financing Chairman and CEO; Roy Miclat, 1 Cooperative Insurance President and CEO; and Atty. J.J. Disini, Managing Partner of the Disini Law Office.

Two speakers will be sharing their insights on technology’s impact on their industries:  Atty. Mark Gorriceta, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra’s Managing Partner, on the legal tech industry; and Noel Bonoan, President and COO of auditing firm KPMG, on the importance of artificial intelligence for accounting and law firms. All these shall be followed by talks on what investors are looking for, led by Minette Navarette, Vice Chair and CEO of Kickstart; Coins.ph CEO Ron Hose and Mica Tan, President and CEO, MFT Group of Companies.

On the fifth and last day of the WFF-Philippines, attendees will get useful pointers about becoming digital superstars, relevant fintech verticals, and industries on their way to transformation. These topics will be led by Ayala Corporation’s Managing Director, CHRO & Group Head, Corporate Resources JP Orbeta; AC Education’s CEO Fred Ayala; AC Healthcare’s President and CEO Paolo Borromeo; Rain Hermans, President and CEO of Singlife; and Globe’s President and CEO Ernest Cu.

Boxing legend and legislator Manny Pacquiao will talk about his latest tech venture, PacPay, a digital payment platform that facilitates cross-border transactions and launched the cryptocurrency known as “Pac Tokens.”

WFF-Philippines Convenor and GMCI Co-founder Amor Maclang believes the collaboration among local tech giants will trigger a reverse diaspora. She foresees that the “rising tech hubs in the near future will bring them back home—where they can contribute their talents and their time, advance a career and build businesses while enjoying a happy and prosperous life with their families. It is a vision that technology can help us reach.”