TeleClinic builds on market leadership in telemedicine Increasing number of patients opting for an online doctor
Munich, 8 January 2021. TeleClinic, the German market leader in online doctor’s consultations, built on its leading position in telemedicine in 2020. The number of treatments rose by over 500% year on year, exceeding company expectations. The increased patient demand was due to the coronavirus pandemic and cost-free access for non-private patients for the first time. Thanks to its high quality standards, TeleClinic also secured its position with doctors and patients as the first port of call for digital healthcare. The offering from the Munich-based company made a major contribution towards ensuring healthcare provision across the country in 2020. As a platform provider, TeleClinic is a key strategic building block in the healthcare ecosystem of the Zur Rose Group, which acquired the company in July 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has acted as a catalyst for telemedicine and accelerated its development in Germany. For many people, at the peak period of infections an online consultation with a doctor was the only way to access or provide medical services without taking any risk of becoming infected. The potential for video consultations will grow over the long term: TeleClinic CEO Katharina Jünger expects that by 2026, 5% of all outpatient consultations with a doctor in Germany will take place online – that’s equivalent to 50 million visits: “Our aim is to make quick and reliable medical care available to all patients at any time. Last year, many people opted for a digital consultation with a doctor for the first time. Video consultations will become firmly established as a part of the healthcare system in 2021, regardless of the coronavirus. A glance at the USA and Scandinavia confirms that in future telemedicine will be an integral part of healthcare provision and make a sensible addition to both inpatient and outpatient treatments.” TeleClinic plans to expand its network of doctors “When it comes to online consultations, TeleClinic is the partner of choice for registered doctors. We are keen to attract even more medical professionals to online treatment in 2021 in order to expand our network”, comments Ms Jünger. “This is especially crucial so patients can speak to a doctor online at any time.” Along with the coronavirus and antibody tests already introduced, in 2021 TeleClinic is looking to add laboratory testing with partner Cerascreen and self-administered tests for home use to its online doctor’s consultations. This will make it possible to have saliva, urine, blood and DNA tests done without another visit to a local medical practice, increasing diagnostic certainty. Video consultations often bring patients into local pharmacies The introduction of e-prescriptions on 1 July 2021 is a key milestone for TeleClinic. Statutory health insurers will then receive non-private prescriptions from online doctors. Unlike with the private digital prescriptions seen so far, the costs of the medicines will then be covered by the statutory health insurers. Patients have their e-prescription filled digitally, either online or locally in the pharmacy. “Apps on prescription” appear in digital practices About TeleClinic: TeleClinic currently employs over 60 staff and cooperates with more than 260 doctors, who so far have carried out more than 100,000 medical treatments over the TeleClinic platform. Since July 2020 the platform provider has belonged to Zur Rose Group AG, Europe’s largest e-commerce pharmacy. In 2020, 29-year old founder and CEO Katharina Jünger was included on the Forbes “30 under 30” list for Germany, Austria and Switzerland and the Capital “Young Elite – 40 under 40”. For more information go to www.teleclinic.com Press contact TeleClinic: schoesslers GmbH [1] McKinsey & Company, ehealth Monitor 2020, November 2020 |