“We will be rolling out the app shortly as our effort is to leverage the latest technologies available. We are entering into a AI radiology partnership that will be of global relevance, considering that the new offering will combine the best of machine learning and AI,” said Arjun Ananth, CEO, Medall.

The joint venture with a 3 professional-run start-up will be formalised soon. Earlier, this month, Medall had unveiled its subscription-based personalised programme ‘Blume,’ that is aimed at tackling lifestyle disorders and provide an opportunity for a holistic, science-based offering, he told DTNext.

The large chain of medical diagnostic services is keen to aggressively use social media campaigns to take Blume pan-India. Present in nine states, Karnataka is a far bigger market than Tamil Nadu for Medall which has been stitching partnerships with laboratories even while riding on referrals for growth and visibility.

Ananth said the primary focus has been consumers and corporate wellness programmes, wherein it promises being able to test out “no medication” or “reverse medication” in 3-5 months for those in need of its services.

The data evident from pandemic shows three groups of people mainly hit: diabetics, obese and those with hypertension. “Chronic lifestyle diseases have taken centre stage and increasingly, there is concern about building immunity and wellness,” Ananth said.

The scary statistics of country’s estimated 80 million diabetics expected to double over five years are providing focus areas for healthcare entities like Medall. “These have to be seen in the context of people moving away from a traditional lifestyle. The adoption of Western practices, social media deluge and the concept of family dinners no longer the norm, have impacted the society. Work from home has become more stressful than before,” he lamented.

If the older generations at best consulted doctors for cold, cough or a fever, the scope of treatment and advice has drastically changed now. “In over 500 people, we found 80 per cent of consultation related to lifestyle diseases. Our well-crafted programmes are around diabetes, obesity, PCODs and hypertension, Half the people are not even aware that they are borderline diabetics,” Ananth said.

While all fasting-related checks are organised at home, scanning processes are done at the centres within two hours of a patient’s arrival, rather than using up a day, that typically is so in a master health checks, he said, seeking to point out the convenience that included app-based reports, consultation using the telemedicine platform.

The Peepul-backed venture plans to expand in Telangana as part of its strategy and also widen its network in south by taking over few more doctor-run outfits within six months.

With over 100 collection centres and 40-plus integrated packages (organ, age group, gender wise) designed by doctors, the around Rs 500 crore Medall hopes to double its revenues and expand in five states in four years.