Digital Health Takes Center Stage at Spring Festival Gala

The Year of the Horse Spring Festival Gala witnessed an unusual star - not just singers or actors, but a digital health assistant named Ant Afu. The app made its prime-time debut during the sketch "Blood Pressure Monitor," marking another tech brand's successful crossover into China's most-watched television event.

From TV Screens to Family Gatherings

Just days before appearing on the gala, Ant Afu announced its partnership with CCTV's Health Life program. But the real action happened off-screen, as millions of young Chinese returning home for the holidays introduced the app to their families.

"At first I just wanted an easy way to check my parents' health records," said Li Wei, 28, who taught his diabetic father to use Afu during their reunion. "Now our whole family group chats about health tips from the app."

This grassroots adoption sent Ant Afu rocketing to the top of app store charts for three consecutive days before Lunar New Year's Eve - a testament to how digital health tools are becoming part of modern holiday traditions.

More Than Just an App

Behind its simple interface, Ant Afu represents China's ambitious healthcare digitization efforts. The free platform partners with local health authorities nationwide, linking over:

• 5,000 hospitals
• 300,000 verified doctors
• Complete care services from online consultations to digital medical records

"What makes Afu special isn't just technology," explains public health expert Dr. Zhang Ming. "It's creating shared health experiences between generations - something especially precious during family reunions."

Key Points:

• Prime-time debut: Ant Afu featured in Spring Festival Gala comedy sketch
• Holiday trend: Teaching elders to use health apps becomes new reunion activity
• Service network: Connects users with thousands of hospitals and doctors nationwide
• Digital inclusion: Bridges healthcare access gap between urban and rural populations