Early Career and Vision on HealthTech Innovation

Arefin Zaman’s professional journey is driven by his background in computer science and machine learning. Before graduating from RUET in 2017, Arefin embarked on his career as a machine learning engineer while still a student, eventually leading the machine learning team at SociunAI. Together, they developed a Bangla speech recognition software and a natural language chatbot. A personal experience with his father's chronic illness prompted Arefin to create MedEasy.

From DoctorBondhu to MedEasy

In late 2019, Arefin initiated a project called DoctorBondhu, aiming to digitalize patient records and enable video consultations for hospitals and clinics. Despite initial interest from doctors, the platform faced challenges in monetization. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a pivot to a B2C telemedicine marketplace, resulting in the birth of DoctorBondhu. The unfortunate passing of  Arefin’s father due to COVID-19 in mid-2020 encouraged him to commit fully to MedEasy’s mission. MedEasy offers nationwide doctor video consultations and medicine home delivery where users can connect with licensed doctors and receive consultations, aiming to enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability in Bangladesh.

Navigating Growth by Enhancing Customer Retention

MedEasy initially struggled with low customer retention rates, leading to introspection and adaptation. Recognizing the need to address medication accessibility issues, MedEasy pivoted again to include an online pharmacy, resulting in a significant increase in customer retention rate from 10% to 80%. MedEasy has since delivered over 185,000 medicine orders in the last two years.

Overcoming Traditional Healthcare Challenges 

The integration of traditional healthcare systems into an online platform posed challenges, which it addressed by leveraging its technological edge. MedEasy has a 96% medication fulfillment rate by working directly with manufacturers, while traditional pharmacies often fail to fulfill complete prescriptions. This is partly attributed to efficient supply chain management and inventory tracking.

MedEasy’s Vision for the Future

With a focus on serving chronic disease patients with a market size of 30 million in Bangladesh, MedEasy’s vision extends beyond its current offerings. MedEasy plans to expand its services by developing a healthcare services marketplace akin to booking.com, introducing a natural language chat interface, and exploring alternative financial products for healthcare financing.

Advice for Entrepreneurs

Drawing from his entrepreneurial journey, Arefin offers advice to aspiring founders, particularly those in healthcare: focus on customer validation, prioritize feedback from customers over investors, and resilience is key. Building a successful startup takes time and perseverance, so be prepared for setbacks and challenges along the way. Being customer-centric and evolving the product or service based on customer needs is crucial.

Arefin Zaman’s journey demonstrates the impact of resilience in tackling healthcare challenges. Through MedEasy, he is contributing to the advancement of accessible and inclusive healthcare solutions in Bangladesh and beyond.

_{Interviewed by Parisa Omar}

_{Written by Allin Mohana Biswas}