ResMed has completed the acquisition of HB Healthcare to help millions of South Koreans living with sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory conditions.
HB Healthcare, a privately owned South Korean home medical equipment provider, serves both reimbursed and cash-pay customers of sleep and respiratory care devices. ResMed intends to reach millions more patients through HB Healthcare and its wider network of trusted distributor partners.
“ResMed has reaffirmed its leading role in Korea’s CPAP and respiratory care market, and commitment to improving millions of Koreans’ breathing and quality of life,” says Kim Ho Kyun, ResMed Korea’s sales and marketing director, in a release. “With HBH and our valued distribution partners in Korea, ResMed can maximize the number of people who can enjoy the benefits of life-changing cloud-connected sleep and respiratory therapy.”
Sleep Apnea in Korea
One in five Korean adults is believed to have sleep apnea, according to a study by Ansan Hospital, Korea University and the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention. ResMed believes that the Korean population is highly underserved, and that increased awareness among Koreans and their doctors can lead to better diagnosis rates, treatment, and overall health outcomes.
The Korean government’s July 2018 decision to commence National Health Insurance Service reimbursement for sleep apnea diagnosis and CPAP treatment devices can help encourage people with sleep apnea to seek the in-home treatment they need.
Respiratory Care in Korea
Koreans required to use home ventilation to help treat their COPD or other lung disease may be eligible to rent from ResMed’s comprehensive range of ventilators through their health insurance provider.
Plus, a 2018 study showed that combining a home ventilator with home oxygen therapy significantly reduced COPD-related hospital readmissions and saved people money over the long term.
ResMed provides a comprehensive range of home ventilators through its distribution partners to patients as well. Those ventilators will be cloud-connectable later this year.
“We’re excited to join the ResMed family and, together, help provide life-changing, cloud-connectable devices to millions of Koreans living with sleep apnea, COPD, and other chronic diseases,” says Hong Seung Chul, HB Healthcare’s director of patient management.
ResMed has sold sleep and respiratory care devices in Korea for more than a decade.
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I think we have all known that both ResMed and Phillips would eventually follow Inogen and go direct to patient. Just a matter of time. Buying a large DME in Korea is likely a first step. Test the waters on managing their own patients. They already have patient data from Brightree. Direct ship was implemented. Just the licensing step needed with the purchase of a U.S. DME, like Inogen. Not if, just a matter of when. Phillips is already a consumer company, so they won’t be far behind. We should support F&P and 3B more to hedge our bets. We don’t. We just keep feeding the monsters that will eat our lunch. Writing is on the wall.