Health tech startup MediBuddy has acquired Clinix, a telehealth platform focused on providing online health services in rural India, for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in 2020, Clinix has an Android mobile app for booking online doctor consultations. Its network covers 20 tier 3 and 4 cities where it has also set up kiosks that assist patients in accessing online consultations.

WHAT IT'S FOR

According to a media release, MediBuddy's acquisition of Clinix will help it to scale its operations further and expand its coverage in underserved areas of India.

Clinix's network adds to MediBuddy's existing network of over 90,000 doctors, 7,000 hospitals, 3,000 diagnostic centres, and 2,500 pharmacies. Its integrated health ecosystem offers laboratory test booking, online doctor consultations, and medicine delivery. Moreover, its services are delivered in 16 Indian languages to enable seamless access for patients in lower-tier cities.

WHY IT MATTERS

India is dealing with a shortage of medical professionals as demonstrated by a below-average doctor-population ratio of 1:1,456 (as compared to the World Health Organization standard of 1:1,000). It has even a lower ratio in rural areas given a skewed distribution of doctors working in urban and rural areas.

"MediBuddy’s advanced technology and extensive network will go a long way in helping us cover a wider range of population and bridge the urban-rural divide in terms of quality healthcare solutions," said Clinix CEO and co-founder Aravind Dhulipala.

MARKET SNAPSHOT

This acquisition follows a Series C funding round in February where MediBuddy raised $125 million to build out its data science capabilities and fund its clinical research. 

Fellow Indian health tech company, Pristyn Care, also made a recent acquisition. In June, it bought the mobile health platform Lybrate as part of its expansion into primary care. Since 2018, Pristyn Care has been providing secondary care surgeries via its network of in-house speciality surgeons and hospitals in more than 40 cities in India.

ON THE RECORD

"Clinix has a wide presence in the rural areas and with our network and infra-tech support, we aim to further expand our reach and services and achieve our goal of covering a large section of the population, who have limited access to quality healthcare solutions," MediBuddy CEO and co-founder Satish Kannan commented.