Push Doctor announces founder and CEO has stepped down

Push Doctor has announced that its CEO and co-founder has stepped down.

The paid-for online GP service confirmed that Eren Ozagir left the company this summer. Push Doctor chief operating officer (COO), Wais Shaifta, assumed the role of acting CEO in July.

Shaifta joined Push Doctor from online wellness service Treatwell, where he was director of global operations.

Prior to that, he spent six years with online food delivery giant Just Eat as international operations director.

In a statement, Push Doctor said the search for Ozagir’s permanent replacement was underway.

Susanne Given, chairman of Push Doctor, said: “Eren can be proud of the role he has played in pioneering digital health and establishing Push Doctor as a recognised consumer brand in digital primary care. He leaves with the best wishes of the board and colleagues.”

The Sunday Times has suggested that the 39-year old stepped down “due to a difference of opinion with the board over the direction of the company”, after the board announced plans to cut up to 40 jobs.

When contacted for a reply by Digital Health News, Push Doctor said it would not be commenting any further.

Founded in 2013, Push Doctor charges patients £25 for a 10-minute video consultation and is manned by GPs working in their spare time.

In June 2017, a report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found the service to be delivering unsafe care, Digital Health News reported.

The report found blood thinners and antidepressants had been dished out without patients first being given the correct monitoring and blood tests.

Doctors from the service were also temporarily banned from treating children, after some were found not to be identifying young patients.