WEF recognizes Praava Health as 'tech pioneer'

Brick-and-click healthcare venture Praava Health was selected among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum’s ‘Technology Pioneers’ for its contributions to healthcare innovation in Bangladesh.

It is a patient-driven company disrupting the standard for healthcare for Bangladeshis, said a press release.

Tripling growth every year since launching in 2018, and currently serving 200,000 patients, Praava’s tech-forward model is designed to be efficient, accessible, and scalable across emerging markets, where 85% of the world lives.

Previous tech pioneers include Airbnb (2014), Dropbox (2012), Kickstarter (2012), Spotify (2011), Twitter (2010), Proteus Digital Health (2009), and Google (2002).

Also Read - Praava Health raises $10.6m to increase access to quality healthcare in Bangladesh

"We are excited to welcome Praava Health to our 2021 cohort of Technology Pioneers," says Susan Nesbitt, head of the global innovators community, World Economic Forum.

"Praava Health and its fellow pioneers are developing technologies that can help society solve some of its most pressing issues. We look forward to their contribution to the World Economic Forum in its commitment to improving the state of the world," she sadded.

"It is wonderful to be recognized as a pioneer by the World Economic Forum," said Praava Health’s Sylvana Q Sinha.

Artificial intelligence, smart design, and biotechnology are the future of healthcare, and Praava’s brick-and-click model will continue to leverage technology to enhance patient experience, access, and outcomes for Bangladeshis. Technology can never replace doctors, but it can help patients and their care teams to better manage health, she also said.

Technology Pioneers have been selected based on the community’s selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact, leadership, and the company’s relevance with the World Economic Forum’s Platforms such as COVID Action Platform, Center for Cybersecurity, Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare, among others.  

Praava is a brick-and-click healthcare platform that integrates digital health and in-clinic experiences convenient to where everyone lives, works, and clicks.

The platform seamlessly combines technology with traditional health services — meaningful doctor-patient relationships (15-minute appointments) and quality diagnostics (lab and imaging) and medications — to improve patient experiences and outcomes.

Praava’s digital products include Bangladesh’s first patient app (launched in 2018), as well as telemedicine, e-pharmacy, and virtual primary care.

It is also the first in the region to introduce value-based healthcare concepts, aligning patient values with its own incentives.