Healthcare technology (healthtech) in Thailand continues to have a significant impact on the population as innovations spread throughout the industry. According to Statista Research, digital health is on track to have a revenue of USD 925.70 million this year, with the treatment and care segment being the largest market at USD 475.40 million.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, residents have been keen on boosting their health and wellness. As such, they are purchasing products and services such as vitamin and fitness supplements, exercise machines and equipment, personal care items like soap, and more. 

Healthtech startups are receiving funding from local and foreign sources, helping Thai people address their health concerns. Some of the challenges they face include their overall well-being, ageing, weight management, digestive, heart, immune health, and other issues.

Here are the top 5 healthtech startups in Southeast Asia to look out for in 2023

Below are five startups using technology to make healthcare more accessible in Thailand:

DentalTap

Private dental clinics, networked dental clinics, and dentists working alone need help with managing their businesses so they can dedicate more time to serving their patients. DentalTap makes that possible by developing cloud-based software, digital health information systems, AI-powered diagnostic solutions, graphic dental charts, and automation dentistry tools. The automated activities include:

  • Office tasks like analytics and real-time reporting
  • Treatment processes like diagnosis and creating treatment charts
  • Multi-channel patient communications like patient portal and online booking

Customers can either pay to subscribe to the service or use it for free, but to a limited extent. For example, the free version only allows up to 75 patient records in the database. DentalTap has one institutional investor—FPT Ventures—and has so far raised about USD 0.05 million.

Ooca

Mental Health platform Ooca enables users to connect to therapists through the Ooca app anywhere and anytime to receive counselling. It works by downloading the app and creating an account using a phone number or email. Then, the patient can book a session with a psychologist or psychiatrist and begin the treatment even from the comfort of their home.

Thus far, Ooca has raised USD 320K in two funding rounds from Bangkok Dusit Medical Service (BDMS) and Expara Thailand. The partnership with BDMS helps Ooca achieve its goal of becoming the number one mental health services provider, using various initiatives to increase accessibility to all patients online and offline. One of the technological innovations used by Ooca is telemedicine—using video calls for patients to talk to psychologists.

Doctor Anywhere (previously Doktor Raksa)

Singapore-based Doctor Anywhere acquired Thailand’s telemedicine platform Doktor Raksa in 2021 for US$65.7 million.  The company offers online consultations with a certified doctor or pharmacist, electronic prescriptions and medicine refills, digital medical summaries, and more. The goal of the acquisition was for Doctor Anywhere to localise its operations and then expand the service to many provinces in Thailand.

Doctor Anywhere has an app that users can download to access medical care, get treatment, and have prescriptions shipped for free. It has also established partnerships with employers and health insurance companies to deliver telehealth services to employees. Thus far, the company has raised USD 135.6 million in over four funding rounds from Novo Holdings, IHH Healthcare Berhad, Asia Partners Fund Management, OSK-SBI Venture Partners, EDBI, and Kamet Capital Partners.

Arincare

Healthtech company Arincare is a digital pharmacy platform which provides inventory management, ePrescriptions, patient medical records, pharma marketplace, and Point–of–Sale (POS) solutions for pharmacists and drug stores. The company has a network of more than 3,000 pharmacies throughout the country.

Arincare raised USD 4 million in Series B funding from Chularat Hospital Group (CHG) and PTG Energy Plc. They intend to use the money to boost the telehealth ecosystem at the community level in Thailand to enable more patients to access treatment. Moreover, it plans to integrate inpatient and outpatient services.

ZeekDoc

Finally, ZeekDoc is a platform that enables patients to find the right doctor or nearby medical specialists and schedule an appointment online. It also has a call centre to respond to queries and provide free advice. Booking is free and accessible 24/7, and patients do not have to wait because they will get an appointment with the earliest available medical professional.

ZeekDoc is beneficial because it saves money on commuting to hospitals, is convenient, and brings medical experts closer to patients in rural areas.

Healthtech startups are making a difference in Thailand, but technology can only thrive with the necessary infrastructure in place. Thus, the government has a role in providing funding, upgrading the infrastructure, collaborating in public-private partnerships to get projects funded or done, and improving the regulatory climate. 

Moreover, they should continue delivering public sensitisation courses to encourage residents to become comfortable using modern-day technological solutions. The Thai government should also reach out to regional governments to enhance innovation and medical research, ultimately boosting the healthcare system.