Advanced Info Service (AIS), the country's largest mobile operator in terms of subscribers, is heightening its focus on health services for customers through collaboration with partners following the rise of the segment due to the pandemic.
The carrier is providing telemedicine services, working with 350 pharmacies in a discount campaign through AIS point redemption as well as providing health insurance policies for its customers through partners.
Bussaya Satirapipatkul, head of customer and service management at AIS, said the pandemic has spurred people's focus on health.
Citing a Dusit Poll in December last year, she said 68% of Thai respondents were prioritising their health following the outbreak, with 89% focusing on ways to prevent contracting Covid-19.
Bussaya Satirapipatkul, head of customer and service management of AIS.
"Since 2020, we have been providing services in health, beauty and wellbeing. The average monthly use of AIS telemedicine services grew 250% last year," Ms Bussaya said.
She said AIS is working with partners in the health sector under the concept "Good Health The New Way", which provides "privileges to AIS and AIS Fibre customers covering healthcare-related matters in a single channel".
According to Ms Bussaya, health, beauty and wellbeing is one core category of AIS's five services. The others include food and beverages, shopping, entertainment and lifestyle.
The redemption of online privileges has grown 460% from the first quarter this year, she said.
She said Thais enjoy online healthcare services via digital platforms and are increasingly purchasing digital gadgets to fit their lifestyle in wake of the pandemic.
The company has put an emphasis on online channels, centred on the myAIS app, which provides every service and privilege through a single channel.
According to her, three services have been highlighted under the "Good Health The New Way" concept.
The first service covers telemedicine, which will empower customers to consult doctors via AIS' 5G phone network, she said.
AIS and AIS Fibre customers can use the service for a starting price of 150 baht from May 1 to Dec 31.
This will allow customers to get advice and diagnostic results online with home delivery service for medicines, she noted.
The second concept includes services from over 350 pharmacies across the country. These drug stores are operated by five key pharmacy powerhouses -- Bangkok Drugstore, FASCINO, iCARE, Pharmax, Sharmble and Vitamin Club.
A discount of up to 60 baht can be obtained by redeeming 100 AIS points from June 20 to Sept 30.
The last concept is health insurance coverage in which AIS is working with Bangkok Insurance to provide insurance against adverse effects of Covid-19 vaccines, with an insured amount of up to 500,000 baht for hospitalisation in the event of inpatient treatment for any adverse reaction.
AIS has 43 million subscribers in total and 25 million subscribers have downloaded the myAIS app. Of this number, the number of active users is 8 million subscribers per month.