UK’s babylon Health partnership with TELUS Health

Canada’s TELUS is launching an AI powered healthcare app in Canada with the London-based virtual GP provider babylon Health, which has cornered the UK market on AI healthcare services since its launch in 2013.

The free app, which consists of a symptom checker and face-to-face medical appointments, will be rolled out after more details are released later this year.

An advisory council of healthcare professionals is being set up to support the app’s phase-in, with input from government health bodies, TELUS has said.

The companies say the app will improve access to care for people living in remote areas of the country and for those with mobility issues.

babylon’s ‘mission’ ‘is to put an accessible and affordable health service in the hands of every person on Earth’ through its virtual applications.

In April, the company announced that it had broken into the Chinese market for the use of its services in mainland China – and more recently formed a partnership with medical insurer Prudential Corporation Asia to give its customers access to its technology.

Dr Ali Parsa, babylon’s founder and chief executive, said: ‘Canada is building a reputation worldwide for innovation and desires to be at the cutting-edge of development.

‘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.

‘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.’

Juggy Sihota, vice president of TELUS, added: ‘Our partnership with Babylon, through a globally-leading virtual care solution, will enable people to get access to healthcare anywhere and anytime they need it.

TELUS provides digital support services, including a medical records system and analytics platform, in the healthcare sector in Canada.