Interros signs strategic partnership agreement with BestDoctor

MOSCOW. Oct 6 (Interfax) - Interros, which is controlled by Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin, has signed a partnership agreement with healthcare services ecosystem BestDoctor to develop digital healthcare services and create the leading player on the insurance market, the group said on Thursday.

The partnership calls for Interros to acquire a non-controlling stake in BestDoctor and gives the group a seat on the company's board of directors.

The companies plan to strengthen the BestDoctor ecosystem of healthcare services and develop a line of insurance services under the BestInsure brand, which will include insurance of critical illnesses, as well as travel, property, accident and other insurance.

Interros expects the partnership to result in BestDoctor becoming a leader on the voluntary health insurance market and the insurance market in general, group CEO Sergei Batekhin said. BestDoctor's services and competencies will gain new momentum for development thanks to integration with the technologies of other Interros group companies, he said.

"The partnership with BestDoctor is completely consistent with Interros's strategy to develop high-tech areas of business and build companies that are industry leaders, in this case in the healthcare and insurance services sector," Batekhin said.

"Interros's experience in building a technology-driven voluntary health insurance platform and investment open up an opportunity for us to scale up in new segments. We see a great deal of synergy with the group's assets for both BestDoctor and for BestInsure," BestDoctor CEO and cofounder Mark Sanevich said.

BestDoctor is a major player on the medtech and insurtech markets, with 280,000 users. The company employs more than 200 doctors and consultants, and its health insurance policyholders can receive healthcare services at 18,000 clinics throughout Russia.

The company's corporate clients include MegaFon , Sistema PJSFC , online streaming service Ivi, RBC, MTS Bank, Aviasales, Samokat and other Russian and international employers.