As the mainland authorities invite private investors into the medical sector, a huge amount of capital has flooded in - some of it going to online services and mobile phone apps. At the end of last year, the mainland had more than 2,000 apps related to the industry in a market worth an estimated 3 billion yuan (HK$3.8 billion). And more is to come - by 2017 the market is expected to swell to 12.5 billion yuan, according to China Medical and Pharmaceutical Material Association.
Fifteen years ago, Li Tiantian set up Dxy.cn a website that provides academic information to doctors. Li gave up his pursuit of a PhD degree in neurology and a job as a doctor at a top hospital in Harbin in Heilongjiang province. The website has become the mainland's largest medical portal and has received US$70 million investment from Tencent, China's internet giant. Li has created four apps, and is opening a brick-and-mortar clinic soon.
Image: Li Tiantian set up leading medical site Dxy.cn. Photo: SCMP Pictures
