Superstar surgeon to run Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffet's healthcare venture
A renowned surgeon and author will run Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffet's medical venture, which is tipped to shake up the delivery of trillion-dollar healthcare industry in the US.
Dr Atul Gawande, who practices general and endocrine surgery at a US hospital and has written four New York Times bestsellers, will take over the new company backed by Amazon, JP Morgan Chase and Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway.
The venture, the name of which is yet to be announced, will be headquartered in Seattle and focused on slashing healthcare costs for the companies' combined 1.2m workers. It will operate independently from their main business, operating free from profit incentives.
Upon announcement of his appointment, Dr Atul said that the current health system was "broken" and that the trio's backing will not only help improve their employee's healthcare, but incubate better healthcare services and products "for all", hinting at wider plans to disrupt the highly lucrative medical industry.
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos said: “We said at the outset that the degree of difficulty is high and success is going to require an expert’s knowledge, a beginner’s mind, and a long-term orientation.
“Atul embodies all three, and we’re starting strong as we move forward in this challenging and worthwhile endeavor.”
Warren Buffet said that Atul shared the organisation's desire to deliver better, cheaper health care, adding that "Jamie [Dimon, JP Chase Morgan chief executive], Jeff and I are confident that we have found in Atul the leader who will get this important job done.
Amazon began snapping up pharmacy licenses across US states in 2017 and is reported to already be selling clinical equipment directly to hospitals. In February, the retail and cloud giant launched its own line of over-the-counter health products in a possible challenge to pharmacy retail chains, an area that is ripe for disruption.
It is already hunting for innovative new healthcare services, including the best way to use voice to help people with diabetes using its smart speakers.
