Digital healthcare is on the rise

Digital healthcare services are well on their way to becoming an essential part of healthcare in Belgium and Europe. Before the corona crisis, we already saw about 64% of Belgians saying they were open to an online doctor consultation. It is a great solution for those who have difficulty moving around, cannot reach a doctor due to a lack of time, need quick advice, or cannot make themselves available for a consultation during regular sessions. Families, young people up to 30 years old, and business people have been won over in particular. But virtual medical monitoring also offers a solution for the chronic condition follow-up, e.g. a diabetes patient no longer has to travel anywhere to discuss blood sugar values with an expert and receive dietary instructions. 

Digital and personal consultation, 100% compliant

AXA Partners Benelux was the first to capitalize on this trend. Working with a Belgian insurance company, it developed a platform for virtual video consultations. Teleconsultation is a complete solution: a digital application that people can access through their PC, tablet or smartphone, a call centre that answers calls, and a network of GPs that gives patients personal consultations online – whenever they need it. The digital consultations comply with all protocols and accreditations that apply to physical consultations. So, a virtual consultation via the platform takes place in a completely secure environment and in accordance with all guidelines of the Belgian Order of Doctors and privacy legislation.

A doctor available while you are on a trip

Accessible healthcare is also a tricky issue for travellers. A person who falls ill while on holiday or on a business trip abroad and is not mobile cannot easily find their way to a local doctor. And language is often a barrier. Just taking it easy until you get better or postponing a consultation until you get back home can be risky. That's why AXA Partners has tailored its video consultation platform to travellers. With the online consultations they can now consult a Belgian or Dutch doctor 24 hours a day – and no matter which time zone they are in. Travellers first make an appointment by telephone. An online consultation with a doctor is possible within 30 minutes. The doctor gives medical advice, makes a diagnosis and/or refers the patient to a specialist or the emergency services – just as he or she would during a physical consultation. Travellers are assured of a reliable consultation in their own language (Dutch, French or English) and with a doctor from their home country: Belgians receive a video consultation with a Belgian doctor and travellers from the Netherlands speak to a Dutch doctor.

Sunweb Holiday Doctor – online healthcare as added value

AXA Partners does not offer this virtual medical assistance directly to consumers, but ensures that organizations integrate the service seamlessly into their product offering, e.g. as part of hospital or travel insurance. Nevertheless, the solution does not have to be hidden in the insurance product clauses. Sunweb Group offers its travellers this as a free and unlimited in-app service. They developed the Holiday Doctor functionality together with AXA Partners. Sunweb travellers can have an online consultation with a doctor from Belgium or the Netherlands from any holiday destination by using the SunWeb app. The result is a win-win for both end customers and travel organizations. Sunweb travellers go on their holiday with a secure feeling. Sunweb Group gives customers extra motivation to use their app, increases the number of direct contact moments with its travellers and thus ensures brand loyalty through offering clear added value.

Product innovation with a smooth and fast time-to-market

Sunweb Group had been developing this in-app service for some time, but the global corona pandemic accelerated the process. This white label approach from AXA Partners enabled the travel organizer to switch quickly and bring the online consultation platform to the market within a few weeks – and under its own brand name. The fast time-to-market was possible because AXA Partners had already set up the digital platform, the protocols, the call centre and the doctor network for Belgium and was able to quickly investigate and expand the service for the Netherlands. 

Would you like more information about the online consultation platform for travellers? Please feel free to contact us.