With the healthcare industry facing tremendous pressure in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increase in demand for non-face-to-face or untact medical services. Korean startup Soldoc that provides remote healthcare for various ailments has seen an increase in the number of users for its platform.
Soldoc (Honest Doctor) is a remote healthcare service started by the Korean healthcare company Eye Care Doctor. In a recent media report, the company announced that the cumulative number of remote treatments has exceeded 200 cases. Soldoc has surpassed 300 users and 1200 purchases for products within a month after starting the service in mid-March.
Remote treatments for hair loss, skin, and diet
Eye Care Doctor, founded in 2018, develops and sells healthcare and skincare products directly through eye health brand A.M.E. and haircare brand D.N.D. The startup launched Soldoc in March 2021 to offer remote healthcare services with accurate health information and customized product recommendation services. Soldoc also develops various products for people with concerns about hair loss, diet, and skin diseases.
Soldoc is simple to use from the Kakao Talk facility. The platform provides telemedicine procedures such as treatment, issuance of prescriptions, and receipt of medicines with Kakao Talk. After adding Soldoc from KakaoTalk Plus Friend, the user can easily make a reservation by selecting the treatment field and treatment date and time according to the chatbot’s guidance. When the prescribed treatment time comes, a call is made to the doctor in charge through the KakaoTalk video call, and the user receives it and conducts the treatment with video.
When the treatment is completed, the doctor sends the prescription to a designated pharmacy designated by Soldoc, and the pharmacist guides the dosage method over the phone, and then the drug is sent to the address previously entered by the user.
Currently, Soldoc has about 20 medical staff who have partnered with the company providing remote treatment and online prescription services for only three areas of hair loss, erectile dysfunction, and skin problems.
Aim to expand to more in the healthcare area in future
Eye Care Doctor Co., Ltd. Has been founded by Min-Seung Kim, the CEO who has accumulated experience in overseas sales and strategic planning with about 5 years at POSCO International and Samsung Electronics’ network division. Kim started a cosmetic export business to China after leaving the conglomerate. Kim
eventually partnered with Lee Ho-ik, a former doctor, and founded Eye Care Doctor and Soldoc. The startup has been selected as an investment target for the Incheon Major Economic Innovation Center and has attracted a seed investment of 200 million won or $177k. With its remote healthcare services having a good start, the company hopes to expand it in future and attract more funding.
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