Shop, Scan…See a Doctor? Healthcare Hits Stores

Hola Health raises A$6m to offer telehealth in Woolworths stores

2 May 2025

A routine trip to the supermarket may soon include a visit to the doctor, virtually! Hola Health, a budding telehealth firm, has secured A$6 million to expand its services across Australia. Backers include Healthylife, the healthcare venture of Woolworths, along with M8 Ventures, FundWA and a healthcare partner. The deal, completed in April, reflects Woolworths’ ambition to turn its stores into healthcare access points.

Hola Health, now valued at A$70 million, aims to integrate digital consultations and prescription services with everyday shopping. The idea is straightforward: Australians could consult a doctor online and collect their medication on the same grocery run. “This investment empowers us to bring healthcare into people’s daily routines,” says a company spokesperson.

Demand for telehealth in Australia has surged since the pandemic, encouraged by public subsidies and shifting consumer habits. Hola Health’s retail-centred model introduces a new dimension to the sector, threatening to unsettle established players like HealthEngine and Coviu. Policymakers, keen to expand healthcare access in underserved areas, have shown enthusiasm for such innovations.

Yet convenience carries risks. Healthcare groups warn that rapid expansion must not come at the cost of clinical standards. Hola Health insists it is bolstering both its medical workforce and its technology systems to ensure quality of care keeps pace with demand.

The investment underscores a broader trend. Retail chains are encroaching on healthcare, blurring the line between consumer goods and medical services. Hola Health’s approach may not be the last of its kind. As supermarkets diversify into healthcare, Australians could find the future of medicine located just a few steps from the checkout.