Even in rural areas, you can also see expert accounts in Beijing, where you can prescribe online, buy medicine with just one click, and deliver it to your home in half an hour... Unconsciously, "digital healthcare" connected by an internet cable has gradually penetrated into our lives. However, most people only choose to see colds and coughs through online consultations. What about tumors or cardiac surgery? Can patients with complex medical conditions also have a better medical experience without leaving their homes? Can ordinary people without the ability to afford money also enjoy professional health management and nip potential diseases in the bud? With the continuous advancement of digital healthcare, perhaps these "wishes" are not far from us.
Digitalization is sweeping the world, and the pharmaceutical industry is facing profound changes. How will Pfizer, a global pharmaceutical giant with over 170 years of history, respond? Recently, the Pfizer Smart Medical Innovation Center was unveiled in Qiantang District, Hangzhou. Why did Pfizer choose Hangzhou? How will this innovation center empower Pfizer's digital transformation? After the opening ceremony of the Innovation Center, Jean Christophe Pointeau, President of Pfizer China, Chairman of the RDPAC Executive Committee, and Vice President of the China Association of Foreign Investment Enterprises, sat down to chat with the media, including trendy journalists.
The introduction of "the first city of digital economy"
Pfizer Smart Medical Innovation Center Settles
"We are not just providing drugs or products, but also providing the best solutions for patients," said Jean Christophe Pointeau. As a leading global pharmaceutical company, Pfizer has long recognized the necessity of developing digital innovation. Establishing a smart healthcare innovation center aims to break down industry barriers and provide collaborative platforms that connect doctors, patients, and partners.
The selection of Pfizer's smart healthcare innovation center is primarily based on a solid industrial foundation and a sound ecosystem, followed by talent.
As a leading city and innovation center of China's digital economy, Hangzhou's core industries in the digital economy account for nearly 30% of the regional GDP. Hangzhou has tens of thousands of high-tech enterprises and a well-established ecosystem, attracting the best digital talents from China and even the world. At the same time, Hangzhou has 47 universities, including Zhejiang University, which are not only engines of technological development and innovation, but also talent accelerators for attracting and cultivating top Chinese students.
"There is no doubt that Hangzhou is the first city of the digital economy. Hangzhou has strong technological strength, a large number of professional talents, and also has leading hospitals in China. That is why we chose Hangzhou, as its comprehensive quality is very suitable for the future development of our Pfizer Smart Medical Innovation Center," said Jean Christophe Pointeau.
For Qiantang District, partnering with Pfizer is a two-way empowerment option. Qiantang is the core area for the development of the biopharmaceutical industry in the province and city, with over 1600 pharmaceutical enterprises gathered. The total revenue of the biopharmaceutical industry accounts for half of Hangzhou and also accounts for 1/6 of the province.
In early November, Qiantang officially launched the construction of China Pharmaceutical Port, embarking on a new journey to build a top domestic biopharmaceutical innovation highland. The Innovation Center is the first major landmark project introduced since the establishment of China Pharmaceutical Port. Its development model of "digital+medical+research and development" will bring new impetus to the upgrading of the biopharmaceutical industry in Hangzhou and even Zhejiang Province.
Breaking through the "information silos"
Digitalization connects the medical chain
According to Jean Christophe Pointeau, Pfizer's Smart Healthcare Innovation Center has four key areas of focus. Firstly, solutions for doctors; Secondly, patient-oriented solutions; Thirdly, utilizing digital technology to better connect doctors and patients, especially to enhance diagnostic assistance; Fourthly, partner collaboration. "Pfizer's Smart Healthcare Innovation Center aims to create a startup incubator, accelerator, and ecosystem."
"The focus of digital development is to start from the patient's experience, from being diagnosed to receiving treatment, and how to help them throughout the entire process." Jean Christophe Pointeau gave an example. In the medical chain, the first link is the patient's awareness of the disease, that is, knowing what disease they have. The second stage is diagnosis, which means seeking help after realizing one's illness; The third is standardized treatment, providing the optimal solution for treatment. The fourth is compliance, which determines when patients will recover and stop taking medication after receiving treatment.
However, the distribution of medical resources in China is uneven and data is not interconnected, resulting in "information silos" throughout the entire medical chain. Many patients collapse in the first stage, unable to know their symptoms due to technical or cognitive reasons, or failing to receive the best treatment plan after learning about their symptoms.
Digital technology has enormous advantages in terms of "connectivity". Wang Fei, General Manager of Pfizer's Smart Healthcare Innovation Center, said that through digital technology, knowledge, experience, diagnosis and treatment, as well as subsequent medical management can be entered. Digital healthcare can benefit more people and those who did not originally enjoy high-quality medical services.
The innovation center provides such a service platform. Pfizer Smart Healthcare Innovation Center has an experienced digital team and plays the role of an incubator for cutting-edge smart healthcare innovation projects. Through internal collaboration and external cooperation, we jointly incubate and create professional medical products and services, contributing to the health and well-being of the people.
"In the next era, we hope to establish such a mechanism to promote the development of the entire Chinese medical industry," said Jean Christophe Pointeau.