Billed as a ‘digital hospital,’ Medbelle gives patients greater control over booking elective procedures from liposuction to fertility treatment. As Britons’ health literacy remains low, the platform aims to help people feel confident in choosing the treatments that are right for them. We explore the insights behind this and why Medbelle is aiming to simplify the process of booking health treatments.
Medbelle is an all-in-one platform for private or elective healthcare, giving people guidance throughout the entire process of a treatment – from comparing surgeons and prices, to sorting out financing options and managing appointments. It’s designed to bring ease and transparency to confused or overwhelmed patients. “There is a massive lack of digitisation and patient care for medical procedures,” says Medbelle co-founder Leander de Laporte. “This results in a lack of quality and price transparency, bad communication and patients feeling left alone and neglected in their treatment journey.”
Levels of ‘health literacy’ are low in Britain – according to a 2014 study by the Royal College of General Practitioners, 43% of adults don’t fully understand text-based medical information, whether they're reading hospital signs, leaflets, or health guides. But they’re more than willing to learn – 64% of Britons say they want to take greater control of their health, meaning that they’re keen to research treatments, learn more about their conditions, and get second opinions online. And with 86% saying they’d travel farther afield for higher quality specialist treatments, Medbelle has found an opportunity to connect people to experts that suit their needs.
Abi Buller is the editorial assistant at Canvas8, which specializes in behavioral insights and consumer research. Outside of work, you'll find her wandering around art galleries, practising yoga and seeking out new pastel-coloured garments to add to her collection.
