Loblaw, League Partner to Launch PC Health App

Need to Know

• PC Health, a collaboration between Loblaw and League, gives users access to a digital healthcare network.
• App users can connect with nurses and registered dieticians, receive personalized health advice, and schedule consultations.
• Users can also earn PC Optimum Points for achieving health goals.
• PC Health is now live in Atlantic Canada, with planned nationwide expansion over the next few months.
• League is a leading provider of specialized health benefits such as mental health resources to companies across Canada.

Analysis

Loblaw, the Canadian grocery conglomerate, has partnered with League to offer a new, digital way for Canadians to access healthcare resources.

PC Health, a new app, allows Canadians to access advice from nurses and dieticians wherever they are. The app provides tailored, personalized health advice, the ability to schedule consultations with healthcare professionals, and offers health programs that help users develop healthy habits. PC Health also connects users with “care navigators” who can refer them to doctors, or to other healthcare providers such as mental health professionals, registered massage therapists, and optometrists.

Users of the app can also collect PC Optimum Points, Loblaw’s loyalty program rewards points, by completing health-related goals, or by purchasing health and wellness products from Loblaw’s retail properties.

“We exist to help Canadians live their lives as well as they can. We know that access to care and understanding how to best navigate the healthcare system are two of the biggest challenges facing many of our customers,” said Jeff Leger, president of Shoppers Drug Mart (Canada’s largest pharmacy, which is owned by Loblaw). “The PC Health app combines the power of our robust healthcare network, extensive professional care services and our world-class loyalty program into a healthcare solution for Canadians, right at their fingertips.”

League, the leading health operating system provider, has supplied the technology behind PC Health, while Loblaw has leveraged the pharmacy, food and nutrition expertise it has from Shoppers Drug Mart, the largest pharmacy chain in Canada. The partnership is just the latest foray into digital healthcare for Loblaw: the company is an investor in League, having made an $62-million investment in the health tech company in 2018; a second investment, in 2019, was for an undisclosed amount.

“The PC Health app is a next-generation digital health platform that will help transform healthcare for Canadians,” Michael Serbinis, the founder and CEO of League, said in a statement. “This new personalized “front door” creates a true omnichannel and loyalty experience designed to reach and engage users on their personal health journey. Thousands of people already use League every day to manage their health and get support, we’re thrilled to now be able to help thousands more.”

This is Loblaw’s latest push towards offering a comprehensive health solution for Canadians. The retailer also recently invested $75-million in Maple, acquiring a material minority stake in that telehealth company.

PC Health is currently available to residents of Atlantic Canada, and will be rolled out nationwide to all Canadian residents, with added features, in the coming months.