Telstra and Seven West Media invest AU$10.4m in HealthEngine

Telstra and Seven West Media's AU$10.4 million investment in HealthEngine will allow the company to build an online patient and practitioner marketplace, according to Telstra.

The HealthEngine website offers access to more than 2,000 practitioners in more than 400 health practices across Australia. Customers can book appointments online and through the company's mobile app.

Telstra, along with Seven West Media, which owns media properties including Seven Television, Yahoo7, and Pacific Magazines, announced that they would each be investing AU$5.2 million through cash and value-in-kind to get a stake in HealthEngine.

In investing in the startup, Telstra's media group managing director Rick Ellis said that it would boost Telstra's burgeoning electronic and mobile health businesses.

"This investment fits with both our Sensis digital marketing services business and Telstra Health, our new health business unit," he said in a statement.

HealthEngine CEO Dr Marcus Tan said that the investment would allow HealthEngine to expand beyond covering just GPs and dentists, but also out to the allied health sector and medical specialists.

"This strategic partnership with Telstra and Seven West Media will position us strongly for growth into the emerging electronic health records, online health transactions, and telehealth markets as a leading e-health business in Australia."