917Ventures: health technology demand surges

917Ventures, Globe Telecom, Inc.’s corporate venture builder, said on Wednesday that demand for services offered by its health technology platforms, KonsultaMD and HealthNow, is increasing as the pandemic crisis continues.

“Consultations made through KonsultaMD skyrocketed by 461% in 2020 compared to the previous year,” 917Ventures said in a statement.

Since its launch in August last year, the HealthNow mobile application has been downloaded over 240,000 times, it also noted.

KonsultaMD has been offering healthcare services for the past five years. The telehealth company has worked with the Health department to provide free telemedicine consultation to residents in the Philippine capital.

HealthNow, a collaboration between 917Ventures and ACHealth (Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc.), offers online consultations, medicine delivery, clinic appointments, and laboratory services.

917Ventures Managing Director Vince Yamat said, “We continue to reinvent lifestyle and movement through different products and services in the areas of health, e-commerce, financial technology, and advertising technology that deliver indelible value to consumers and businesses.”

Other Globe companies under 917Ventures are AdSpark, GCash, PureGo, and Rush.

“Being a venture builder, the company is constantly on the lookout for new ideas to launch and accelerate, to further improve the lives of Filipinos,” 917Ventures said. — Arjay L. Balinbin