VANCOUVER – Telus Health is joining forces with London-based digital health company Babylon to provide doctors and patients in Canada with access to virtual healthcare technology solutions and services.
Designed to complement existing healthcare services across the country, the service is aimed at people in rural areas or living with mobility issues, those who are unable to access non-emergency healthcare on evenings, weekends or holidays, and for the five million Canadians who do not have a family physician.
The virtual care technology will be made available to Canadians via a version of the mobile app developed specifically for Canada. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the app will include an easy-to-use, chat-style symptom checker that patients can use to better understand their symptoms or healthcare concerns, plus can be used to have a video consultation with a licensed Canadian healthcare provider.
The Telus-Babylon service in Canada will be debut in English at launch with French to follow in 2019. Babylon’s suite of digital solutions is currently being used by approximately three million direct members outside of Canada and is accessible to tens of millions more through the organization’s worldwide partnerships.
“Our partnership with Babylon, through a globally-leading virtual care solution, will enable consumers to get access to healthcare anywhere and anytime they need it,” said Telus Health VP Juggy Sihota, in the announcement. “Together, we are not only helping to improve the options Canadians have for accessing healthcare, but also providing them with a digital tool that makes communicating with healthcare professionals more efficient.”
All patient data will be stored in Canada, and work is also underway to establish an advisory council of medical professionals to provide guidance into the service’s rollout.
“Telus’ consumer-centric approach coupled with its success in creating a more connected healthcare ecosystem through the use of innovative digital health technology solutions makes them the perfect partner for Babylon as we begin to serve this great country”, added Babylon founder and CEO Dr. Ali Parsa. “Together, we will build on the brilliant work that Canada’s federal and provincial governments, departments of health and clinicians are doing to tackle issues of primary care access and affordability.”
