Greater demand for healthcare services in Brazil, driven largely by a rapidly increasing elderly population and prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), is straining public and private healthcare resources alike. It is estimated that by 2050, Brazil will have around 66 million citizens over the age of 60, nearly three times as there were in 2018. NCDs were estimated to account for 74 per cent of all deaths in Brazil as of 2016. Unnecessary use of healthcare resources poses an additional challenge for healthcare provision in Brazil. In 2017, an estimated US$7.95 billion, or 15 per cent of all private health expenditure, was attributed to inefficiencies, such as unnecessary consultations and healthcare procedures and fraud.

Meanwhile, Brazilians are becoming more connected: As of Q4 2018, there were over 209 million mobile connections in Brazil, with 145 million unique subscribers – 68 per cent of the total population. Smartphone connections represented 81 per cent of all mobile connections, and 84 per cent of unique subscribers are mobile internet users. High rates of mobile broadband coverage and adoption, combined with high smartphone penetration, have paved the way for innovative digital solutions to address key challenges in the healthcare sector.

Through its digital services, AxisMed, a healthcare management intelligence company and wholly owned subsidiary of Telefonica, is improving patient health outcomes and creating cost efficiencies for two main paying clients: private health insurance providers and corporate companies that cover the costs of private health insurance for their employees. Since 2001, AxisMed services have had an impact on the lives of over 25 million individuals. Cumulatively, AxisMed services provide support to over 320,000 beneficiaries via over 35 clients. In 2018 alone, AxisMed generated a total savings of over $15.5 million for its clients, representing a 3:1 return on investment (ROI).