Q: What impact is Docademic expecting to have on healthcare?

CN: We have always wanted to universalize health services, so we created a plan that will allow us to make these services accessible to as many people as possible. Docademic launched a free healthcare service that innovated the provision of direct medical assistance, integrating new technologies such as blockchain and AI. The overarching idea was to create a company that would have an impact on healthcare while applying a scalable business model that could be deployed not only in Mexico but globally as well.

Q: How do you integrate technologies such as blockchain and AI and support the universalization of health services in Mexico?

IH: Medicine is an industry that does not accept new technologies easily so when we started we had to eliminate as many barriers as possible. The first barrier was economic, which is why all our tools are free of charge. To accomplish this, we had to find an appropriate business model. We have all the health industry players in our ecosystem and they have access to important insights on data. Using blockchain allows us to solve many problems faced in this sector such as access and security of very sensitive data.

Q: How does the Docademic app and related doctors provide added value for patients and doctors using the platform?

CN: The first problem we solve for patients is access. Because the app is free to use, patients can consult a doctor without charge and without having to leave their homes. Accessibility from almost anywhere is an important part of what we do because in many parts of the world commuting is difficult for many people. Using the Docademic app means patients do not have to commute. The process to become a Medical Hero is lengthy. They must undergo psychological tests to ensure that they have the necessary skills to treat a patient, as well as knowledge tests among other filters. Also, doctors can also join our platform and get tools to improve the efficiency of their everyday medical practice and free patient’s referrals.

Q: How is Docademic preparing for the epidemiological transition that Mexico is undergoing?

IH: We have been in the market for almost three years and we want our Medical Heroes to be on the frontlines when it comes to providing the necessary follow-up for all those patients with chronic degenerative diseases that the traditional system can no longer cope with. The idea is to absorb all these patients from both the public and private sectors who have monthly follow-up appointments. As a result, medical specialists will be able to devote their time to assist patients who have more complications.

Q: What role is data playing in the company’s growth and how is it used?

IH: The target of most of our products is market research. Our services related to real-time epidemiological data are also growing. This part is particularly important for the public sector since it helps institutions quickly recognize if there are any disease outbreaks in small communities. We also have data on pharmacovigilance and technovigilance and patients on our platform can record their entire journey during their health treatments. The human body is the largest database in the world; we are trying to put this database into a universal health blockchain.

Q: Why did you create the Medical Token Currency (MTC) and your own blockchain technology?

IH: The MTC is the tool we need to universalize health. With this token, we try to incentivize healthy habits. For consulting a doctor and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, our users are awarded MTCs. If doctors correctly record all their patients’ information, they also receive MTCs. With the MTCs, patients can access more health services, pay for more consultations and pay for medicines, while doctors can pay for medical supplies. There is nothing like this in the market