[DealSite Reporter Da-eun Lee]

“In the case of digital healthcare startups, the technology is often excellent, but there are limitations in sales due to a lack of understanding of real clinical settings. Filling this gap with Dong-A ST’s strengths—its sales organization of around 500 people and its nationwide hospital network—is our competitive edge.”

Hee-bong Park, Head of the Digital Healthcare Division at Dong-A ST, made these remarks in an interview with this publication on the 17th at “KHF 2025,” held at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in digital healthcare surged across the pharmaceutical industry, and Dong-A ST launched a group-level “Digital Healthcare Task Force” three years ago.

According to Park, the task force initially played a pump-priming role, driving early product adoption and experimental initiatives, and later evolved into a dedicated team. In December last year, the organization was officially elevated to a business division, accelerating business expansion. Under this model, Dong-A ST identifies promising technologies and products from startup companies, while taking charge of distribution.

Park explained that while pharmaceutical companies have traditionally focused solely on the “treatment” stage, digital healthcare is a business that can encompass prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and post-care management. He stated that the launch of the division reflects the company’s intention to gradually expand its business scope across all four stages of the healthcare lifecycle. He added that this direction also aligns closely with recent technological trends such as artificial intelligence.