OneOnco allows patients to kickstart cancer support system for $1

It is a digital-based oncology solution for those looking to begin their medical care.

There are a lot of stigmas attached to cancer. Ordinary people may say that it is an illness caused by smoking, unhealthy sexual relations, or even a curse. Scientifically, a doctor will explain that it is a genetic mutation or a hereditary disease. There are several other interpretations, which is why, in the field of medicine, the study of cancer or oncology is seen as something multidimensional and multifactorial. This is also the reason why, in Indonesia, almost every oncology treatment is separate from each other. PT Kalbe Farma, therefore, took the initiative to launch OneOnco, an integrated oncology service that aims to unite all stakeholders in the oncology field in Indonesia.

“The goal is that when these stakeholders work together, the output given to these patients will be detailed, comprehensive, and of course, better. Stakeholders, in this case, include academics, doctors, communities, hospitals, insurance, patients, patients' families, and caregivers," Selvinna, Head of OneOnco, PT Kalbe Farma told Healthcare Asia in an exclusive interview.

Surfing at OneOnco

Patients who surf at oneonco.co.id will go through four phases. The first is teleconsultation, a collaboration between Kalbe and Klikdokter, that enables the patient to consult through chat services.

The second phase is early cancer detection. Kalbe has partnered with hospitals and health facilities to enable more affordable prices, starting at IDR 15,000 ($1.01). “Our ecosystem makes it possible to order the screening service, of course, it's easier because the website is already connected to the health facility, you can make a booking, you can even pay directly without having to come to the hospital, which of course makes your expenses less,” Selvinna said. 

The third is the doctor directory feature, which allows patients to choose amongst 743 Kalbe’s partner doctors who specialize in oncology, including 175 referral hospitals.

Finally, the availability of information about cancer that is completely valid and non-hoax. OneOnco not only provides guidance from reliable sources, such as doctors and psychologists, but also from cancer survivors through the testimonials they leave on the platform.

One thing that Selvinna clarified is that they did not find that need to make OneOnco’s chat service available for 24 hours. This is because cancer is not an emergency disease, Selvinna said. “It's like if you're itching now, you don't need to scratch right now. So if you are sick now, you can take medicine first but the examination can be done tomorrow.”

But, how quickly do they respond to their consulting chat service? Healthcare Asia tried to surf on its own and created an account at oneonco.co.id and started looking for online doctors. The time spent from searching to getting the first chat response from the doctor was approximately three minutes. During the chat, waiting for a response to each question took approximately 1 minute.

The doctor that Healthcare Asia spoke to in the service revealed that his shift online is for three hours, after which, another doctor would replace him to cater patients who are sending messages.

Answering doubts

OneOnco creates an ecosystem for those who want to serve, i.e. doctors, and those who need to be served, i.e. patients, because not all have an access to each other. Even for the doctors and other medical service providers, collaborating and getting partnerships is not an easy thing, Selvinna said. “That's why we created a platform where service providers, service recipients, and many other parties can meet. How did they meet? First of all through information first.”

According to data from The Independent, fake news about cancer on Facebook is one of the 20 most shared hoaxes. In Indonesia, one of the problems of oncology is also the deluge of false information and the lack of valid and correct ones, Selvinna said. This causes a lot of anxiety about cancer circulating in society. OneOnco, therefore, strives to be the most accurate reference in Indonesia. "Many people are afraid when he feels there are signs of cancer in his body. Early detection at OneOnco is an easy initial solution for these people, for example, to get a second opinion of what they are worried about,” Selvinna said.

OneOnco also has a channel where cancer survivors can share inspirational stories. Through this, patients and survivors can relate to each other. According to Selvinna, this is one of the important features of their service because it is important for patients to feel motivated and that they are not alone—this becomes a crucial supporting factor for healing. "There is no hope that does not mix with fear, there is no fear that does not mix with hope," said one of the inspirational story headlines on the platform.

The platform also has special vaccinations information for cancer survivors who are confused whether, for instance, they can get their COVID vaccine. "They revealed that they are often rejected for vaccines because the vaccinator is unsure about the results of the screening," said Selvinna.

Collaborating

Kalbe has four business units—the Prescription Pharmaceutical Division (with 23% contribution to the group’s revenue), Consumer Health Division (17%), Nutritionals Division (30%), and Distribution and Logistics Division (30%).  

OneOnco has been around since 2018, but the platform was only officially launched in 2021 and has recorded a compound annual growth rate of 20%. From 2018, the company started collaborations both within and outside the Kalbe Group. 

Internally, the company partnered with organisations that sell chemotherapy, import specialty products, and suppliers of kits for early detection of cervical cancer. The kit has now been produced domestically. Kalbe also tapped a laboratory that specifically examines genes for cancer.

Externally, Kalbe also collaborated with communities such as the Indonesian Cancer Foundation (Yayasan Kanker Indonesia/YKI), Cancer Information and Support Center (CISC), and Lovepink Indonesia. There is also a non-profit organization related to cancer called Knitted Knockers Indonesia, which makes knockers or bra plugs for breast cancer patients which are distributed free of charge throughout Indonesia. Kalbe also works with a mental health application called Relief and, finally, with insurance companies. 

OneOnco has now been able to reach around 10,000 viewers and targets an eight-fold increase this year.

"[We are committed] to provide comprehensive solutions, especially for cancer sufferers when surfing our platform," Selvinna concluded.