Hwang Hee: "Digital Healthcare, Filling the Unmet Medical Needs Is Important"

On the morning of the 14th, at the Conrad Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Hwang Hee, CEO of Kakao Healthcare, is giving a presentation at the '2022 KoNECT International Conference (KIC)' jointly hosted by the National Clinical Trial Support Foundation, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Photo by Lee Chunhee

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] "The approach to digital healthcare is crucial in how to fill the unmet needs that doctors cannot address" (Hwang Hee, CEO of Kakao Healthcare)

At the '2022 KoNECT International Conference (KIC)' held on the morning of the 14th at the Conrad Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, jointly hosted by the National Clinical Trial Support Foundation, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Hwang Hee, CEO of Kakao Healthcare, stated, "The true value of digital healthcare lies in its ability to improve the fundamental problems of current medical care," adding, "It can bring improvements such as enhancing medical accessibility and helping patients understand the treatment process."

In his lecture titled 'Digital Healthcare for Everyone,' CEO Hwang emphasized, "While medical efficiency has improved and unnecessary hospitalizations have decreased, on the other hand, from the perspective of caregivers and patients, the time disconnected from the hospital has increased," and stressed, "Digital healthcare is an area that can fill the services that hospitals want to provide but cannot while being disconnected from patients."

Regarding the business model (BM) of digital healthcare, he emphasized, "We look closely at whether it is a public service that our people like and at the same time whether it can expand globally." He pointed out, "If we do not keep in mind a system that can cooperate with various places around the world through open innovation and open business, it will be difficult to operate digital healthcare solely within the domestic market."

Regarding Kakao Healthcare's business, he reiterated the role as a 'data enabler.' CEO Hwang explained, "To collect data, 'standardization of terminology' and 'standardization of transmission' are necessary," adding, "University hospitals have done such work in the past, but continuous updates have not been carried out."

He said, "People ask why so many medical experts are involved in Kakao Healthcare, and it is for this kind of work," adding, "If hospitals cannot continue this work, we provide these technical services." Although there are forecasts that Kakao Healthcare will play the role of a 'data operator,' he emphasized again, "Since data should not leave the hospital, it is best to keep it within the hospital and carry out standardization work," stating that they will remain as a data enabler.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.