AG and Proximus join forces to invest in the Belgian video consultation platform Doktr
AG joins Proximus, Christelijke Mutualiteit / Mutualité chrétienne and Solidaris as a shareholder
To strengthen the shareholder base, AG, leader in the Belgian insurance market, is acquiring a stake in the Belgian video consultation app Doktr. Proximus, which launched the Doktr app in 2021, is also participating in this investment. Together with CM-MC and Solidaris, there are now 4 major Belgian players in the field of health and economics who believe in and are investing in the development of a hybrid health care model. This transaction, which is subject to approval by the competent regulatory authorities, is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
One in two Belgians ready for video consultation in a context where medical care is under pressure
Over the past few years, it has become increasingly difficult to gain access to general practitioners in certain regions of Belgium. According to recent figures from the Walloon Institute for Statistics (IWEPS ) and the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance ( RIZIV / INAMI ), nearly one in two Walloons live in an area with insufficient access to general practitioners, whereas 117 out of 300 municipalities in Flanders is facing a shortage of doctors. This points to a structural problem concerning the accessibility of primary care in Belgium. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a GP who still accepts new patients or to make an appointment at short notice.
Video consultations, part of the solution
A study conducted by Doktr and AG shows that almost 50% of Belgians are open to video consultations to supplement in-person care. And those, who try it, are generally convinced:
- No fewer than 97% of Doktr users say they are satisfied with their experience.
- More than 400,000 downloads have been recorded since the app was launched.
- The number of consultations via the Doktr app (general practitioners and psychologists) is increasing year on year.
Concrete investment in a hybrid health care model
Because AG believes in the future of hybrid health care and following several years of successful collaboration, the insurer is today announcing its concrete investment in Doktr and in the development of video consultation in Belgium. In this way, AG is demonstrating its conviction that teleconsultation can be a flexible and intelligent complement to in-person consultations in the primary care segment, not only with GPs but also with other health care providers, such as psychologists.
Doktr, Proximus, AG, CM-MC and Solidaris strongly believe in supporting and strengthening primary care through digital video consultations, as a complementary solution, not as a replacement.
I am particularly proud to announce that AG is acquiring a stake in Doktr. We have believed in video consultations for some years now as a way to support traditional visits to the doctor. And Doktr has been part of our range of services since 2022. By becoming a shareholder in this 100% Belgian start-up, alongside other major Belgian players in the areas of technology and health care, we can support the acceleration of hybrid health care in Belgium. Our ambition is to be a key player in health care innovation by focusing on practical, accessible digital solutions.
By co-investing, Proximus is confirming its confidence in Doktr's potential and the future of hybrid health care. Since we launched the app, our ambition has been clear: to use technology to alleviate the pressure on health care and consequently simplify access to medical care. Thanks to artificial intelligence and a secure platform, Doktr already enables thousands of Belgians to consult a health care professional quickly, wherever they are. This investment marks a new phase in our pursuit of a digital, inclusive and sustainable health care ecosystem.
We remain committed to facilitating access to primary care to the greatest extent possible. Video consultations can improve access to medical care in areas where the problem is particularly acute, e.g. due to a shortage of general practitioners locally. However, video consultations can also save GPs and patients time when discussing minor medical issues that can easily be followed up online. They have also already proven their value in the area of psychological care. So we are very pleased with this collaboration.
We are very happy about this collaboration with AG. It is a major step forward in our mission to make health care accessible to everyone in Belgium. Our open ecosystem model enables us to continue focusing on the accessibility of general practitioners and mental health care, as well as the health of employees and the chronically ill.
Shared ambitions for the future and growth of Doktr
With this investment, the partners are fully committed to the further growth of Doktr. More specifically, Doktr and its partners aim:
- actively to build a broad and inclusive ecosystem for health care in Belgium by collaborating with insurers, health insurance funds and other players in the well-being and health care sector
- to make digital health care accessible to all Belgians
- to expand services for employers and their employees, with a focus on prevention, independent care and the chronically ill
- to expand and develop the digital platform so as to provide optimal end-user experience – more specifically thanks to a wider range of health care providers, chat functionality and digital medical triage.
