Health and Wellness

During a panel at CES, leaders at digital therapeutic companies discuss the state of the market right now and what’s needed to boost adoption.

Also: Medicare Advantage insurer Zing Health partners with Papa. Verily and biopharma-company Sosei Heptares announce a research collaboration. Pharma-focused accelerator PharmStars’ next cohort will focus on neurological diseases.

The company plans to expand its services nationwide by 2023. 

Also: Ghanian startup mPharma raises $35 million, and child RPM maker Kiddo scoops up $16 million.

Babylon became a strategic investor in Higi, the maker of health-checking kiosks found in groceries and pharmacies, in May 2020.

Investment will help the company raise awareness of its product in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The company said the smart scale will be available in the latter half of 2022 following regulatory clearance.

According to a study published in JMIR, providers are generally positive about remote therapy and tele-rehabilitation, but they need more training and support to overcome obstacles like technology hurdles and practical concerns.

More payers launched virtual-first plans, insurtechs went public, and the digital mental health space brought in plenty of funding dollars this year.

After another rough year for the healthcare system, startups are using the growth of virtual care to manage chronic conditions and expand primary care.