Telenor launches digital health initiative - reaching millions in Bangladesh
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
(Fornebu) June 5 2016 - Telenor today unveiled its first move to significantly
improve healthcare in emerging markets, with the introduction of its digital
health service Tonic in Bangladesh. By addressing local health challenges
through technology, Telenor takes another step in the digital space.
Tonic is one of the first digital offerings to connect the dots across the
healthcare ecosystem and address the full spectrum of wellness and health needs
through a mobile-based integrated digital service. From prevention-focused
digital content to phone-based primary care information to financial assistance
(discounts and insurance) for hospital care, Tonic is centered around each
member's unique health needs and designed to provide incentives that promote
greater health over the long term.
"Harnessing technology in order to address basic health challenges is an area of
growing interest for Telenor, especially in countries like Bangladesh," said
Sigve Brekke, President and CEO of Telenor Group. "Health and particularly
digital health has the potential of becoming an integral part of our development
as the customer's favorite partner in digital life, and there is no better place
to start than Bangladesh. We have been present in the country since 1997, longer
than any other Asian market, and furthering access to primary healthcare
including insurance solutions, medical professionals, aspirational health
content and discounts for hospitals is an extension of our commitment to
empowering the community."
Currently, Telenor serves more than 185 million customers across Asia. The
mobile service provider has established a new subsidiary called Telenor Health
to scale Tonic and other digital health services to other markets upon success
in Bangladesh.
Tonic was officially launched today at an event in Dhaka, Bangladesh in the
presence of both Health Minister Mohammad Nasim and State Minister of Posts &
Telecommunication Tarana Halim. Offered in the first phase exclusively to the
57 million Grameenphone customers from today onwards, Tonic provides admission
to a variety of free or opt-in services to all members.
Tonic membership provides four unique customer benefits:
1. Tonic Jibon ("Life") is one of the first Bengali-language services to
provide free high quality, science-backed information on how to build a
healthier and happier life for members. Content is accessible through the
web (www.mytonic.com), SMS, and Tonic's Facebook page.
2. Tonic Daktar ("Doctor") enables members to access high quality and immediate
medical advice on basic health topics via phone 24 hours a day, seven days a
week at an affordable rate of Tk 5 per minute, without the traditional
barriers of distance, cost, or safety concerns. Tonic Daktar is designed to
decrease the healthcare burden on the brick and mortar system.
3. Tonic Discounts offers exclusive discounts up to 40% on key services at more
than 50 popular hospitals across Bangladesh. Via a quick SMS with the
partner code to 789, Tonic members can access care at a lower cost.
4. Tonic Cash provides members Tk 500 if s/he been hospitalized for three
consecutive nights or more, paid directly to a member's mobile banking
wallet. Members can claim Tonic Cash up to four times a year, and no
diseases or medical issues are excluded. Powered in partnership with local
insurance partner Pragati Life Insurance Limited, Tonic Cash serves to
mitigate financial risk for Bangladeshi families as well as play a role in
building credibility of insurance providers.
The launch of Tonic is the first official step by Telenor into the global health
sector, and the services offered through Tonic underscore the company's aim to
develop a "digital front door to health for all". The offerings are underpinned
by Tonic's affordable terms and use of digital technology mechanics in markets
with high mobile penetration.
"We are excited to launch Tonic to the market and grow it further per member
needs and alongside strategic partners," said Sajid Rahman, CEO of Telenor
Health. "We strongly believe the introduction of Tonic into the healthcare
ecosystem will improve health care attitudes and perceptions by allowing
everyday people easy access to aspirational information for preventative health,
hospital discounts and expert medical advice instantly without prohibitive
costs."
Media Contacts
Sajid Rahman
Chief Executive Officer
Telenor Health
p: +8801711091731
e: sajid(at)telenorhealth.com
Atle Lessum
VP Telenor Group Communications
p: +47 415 05 645
e: al(at)telenor.com
About Telenor Health
Telenor Health is a digital health subsidiary established by Telenor Group in
2015. Telenor Health is a purpose-driven company with the ambition to leverage
technology to help make high quality health and wellness information, advice,
and services accessible to everyone, particularly for people in emerging
markets. Telenor Health's purpose is an extension of Telenor Group's vision of
"empowering societies" and its commitment to Asia as the group continually
explores new ways to harness technology for the betterment of lives and
communities.
For more information on Telenor Health and Tonic, please visit
http://mytonic.com/. Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonicbd
This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of
GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Telenor via GlobeNewswire
[HUG#2018059]
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Datum: 05.06.2016 - 16:00 Uhr
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News-ID 475700
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