Palette Multimedia partners with China medical centre on i-medic

KUALA LUMPUR: Technology provider Palette Multimedia Bhd has signed a partnership deal with Shanghai International Medical Centre (SIMC) to provide its healthcare services in China.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, chairman Eg Kah Yee said SIMC will adopt Palette Multimedia's mobile healthcare platform i-medic for all its doctors and specialists.

"i-medic is a system used for mobile digital medicine that enables patients to take measurements of their vital signs such as blood pressure, oxygen saturation in the blood and electrical activity of the heart with home wireless medical devices.

"Data from these devices are transmitted to a cloud (an internet-based database) where doctors have access and can analyse such data at any time and any place via WiFi," he said after the company's AGM in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

i-medic manages complete patient information because it includes radiology images such as CT Scan, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), ECG (Electrocardiography) and ultra sound images, among others.

"This is very convenient for both the patients and doctors as they do not need to see each other frequently, but doctors are able to monitor their patients' health based on the data shared in the cloud.

"Just like paying for your house maintenance or car maintenance, i-medic devices maintain your health, and you can do it on your own, any time," Eg said.

Being the first in the world to come up with such a technology, Palette Multimedia expects to generate more profit moving forward, especially after posting losses for three consecutive years.

It is reported that the company had returned to the black in its latest fourth quarter, also turning around for its full year to Dec 31, 2015.

For the fourth quarter to end-Dec 2015, Palette Multimedia recorded a net profit of RM304,000 versus a loss of RM5.32 million previously.

The company had invested more than RM10 million to set up its mobile health business over the last four years.

"We have started to see results from our investment and, moving on, we hope this new business model will be the key driver for the company next year.

"In China, a typical patient pays between RMB30,000 (about RM19,000) and RMB50,000 per year for a treatment and some of this portion will come to us," he said.

Palette Multimedia will also invest in the setup of the mobile healthcare system, providing training, technical support and consultants in managing the centre.

The company will soon offer its services in Asean countries, which will be a big step in promoting international medical tourism. - Bernama