WHA makes move into health tech
SET-listed WHA Corporation, Thailand’s largest developer of built-tosuit logistics facilities, plans to launch a digital healthcare service with cooperation from Samitivej Hospital as it ventures into healthcare technology.
WHA employees will be the first target market to try the “WHAbit digital application”, said Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, the company’s chairman and group chief executive, referring to a new digital tool that enables app subscribers to manage their own health and wellness.
She said the new app provides market information, pain points and other necessary data that can be used to design and enhance healthcare solutions and services offered by Samitivej Hospital through its virtual hospital platform.
“WHAbit will be fully operational soon,” said Ms Jareeporn.
She was speaking as WHA and Samitivej Hospital yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding on the digital app.
The agreement enables both parties to explore and study the end-toend workflows and processes needed to provide the most effective delivery of online healthcare solutions and services that connect with the offline channel.
This includes telemedicine, health check-ups, non-communicable disease clinics, smart clinics, pharmacies, data analytics and other relevant services.
WHA expects to expand WHAbit services to cover factory operators in its industrial estates under a second-phase development plan, said Ms Jareeporn.
Chairat Panthuraamphorn, managing director and chief executive of Samitivej Hospital and BNH Hospital, said
WHAbit will facilitate virtual consultations with qualified doctors for prompt diagnoses, treatment and medication.
WHA believes its diversification into healthcare technology will provide a major source of revenue, helping to drive up future earnings, said Ms Jareeporn.
WHAbit makes up a portion of WHA’s 4-billion-baht investment in digital and startup projects. The budget is part of a 50-billion-baht investment package allotted for 2022 to 2026.
The cooperation with Samitivej Hospital can pave the way for future projects between the pair, she said. WHA and Samitivej Hospital are interested in jointly developing new medical and wellness businesses.