Chinese tech firms pledge millions to help fight Wuhan coronavirus as telemedicine services surge in popularity

Chinese tech giants including search firm Baidu and food-delivery platform Meituan have pledged millions of yuan towards medical research, supplies and support for frontline health care workers in the battle against the coronavirus epidemic.

Baidu said on Sunday that it had established a 300 million yuan (US$43 million) epidemic and public health security fund to support efforts including screening and research and development (R&D) for cures of diseases such as the new coronavirus, as well as for longer-term efforts such as public health and safety information dissemination.

The company will also provide artificial intelligence technology as well as computing resources to assist in R&D efforts by research institutes and disease control agencies, according to a post on its official WeChat account. In addition, Baidu will provide big data and analytics technology to support detection, response and management of the epidemic.

Separately, Meituan set up a 200 million yuan fund dedicated to caring for the nation’s medical staff. Initially, it will focus on assisting medical staff in Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, with funds going toward medical resources, humanitarian help and ensuring that medical staff are supported in their daily lives.

The company has also opened an online donation channel on the Meituan app, allowing users to donate money towards efforts to fight the new virus.

Other Meituan initiatives include providing 1,000 free takeaway meals every day for medical staff at hospitals in Wuhan and providing medical staff in China’s central Hubei province with free use of 300,000 shared bicycles. Hubei has been the worst-hit by the epidemic, with at least 15 cities put on lockdown as the virus spread outwards from the provincial capital of Wuhan.