Dr. Luke: A Promising Albanian Startup in Telemedicine

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Sindi Dervishi is the founder of the startup “Dr. Luke.” With an academic background in medicine and experience in American companies, Sindi and her team have the necessary knowledge to propel this startup forward. As part of the Women Startup Competition Albania, Dr. Luke was among the 10 finalists who presented before a jury and an audience of entrepreneurs, experts, and representatives from institutions.

When did you decide to establish your startup, and what motivates you in this venture?

The idea for Dr. Luke emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic when access to doctors was limited. The concrete impetus came when I attended the global Intelligent Health summit in September 2022 in Basel, Switzerland, where I got acquainted with the most elite startups and companies in the e-health field. There, I thought, “Why not create something similar in Albania?”

What is the mission and vision of your company?

Our mission is to transform the way healthcare is delivered in the Albanian-speaking region by integrating technology to provide a better patient experience and improve healthcare efficiency. Our vision is to become leaders in digital health innovation and contribute to the improvement of public health.

What stage is your startup at currently, and what are you doing? What have been the key steps in this journey?

The main challenge is skepticism about telemedicine and its acceptance in healthcare practice, as well as finding strategic partners in the digital health industry to develop the necessary technology, which is expensive and requires significant investments.

What values and beliefs guide you in your entrepreneurship?

Currently, I am part of an EIT Health program, which includes the top 100 female founders in the medtech field. We are being mentored by global experts and leaders. Additionally, in September, we will return to the Global Summit for Intelligent Health, but this time not as visitors, but as a startup. What will help us move to the next phase is a contract we expect to sign very soon with a leading British digital healthcare company. This company will invest in our startup and help us develop an application that will soon be launched. The application will be secure and protect the privacy of health information. Within our application, you will be able to schedule consultations with any healthcare professional in one place, integrating existing applications for different medical specialties into a single platform.

What solutions do you offer your clients?

In fact, the name “Dr. Luke” comes from Saint Luke, the missionary doctor. We aim for every service to be patient-oriented, especially considering recent events related to the hospital system in Albania. SDG3 aims to ensure health and well-being for all and for all ages. We will contribute to achieving this goal by improving access to healthcare and developing products and services that promote the health and well-being of patients innovatively and sustainably. We will offer a wide range of solutions in digital healthcare through the application and platform we are developing. Patients will not only be able to schedule remote consultations with healthcare professionals, but they will also be able to monitor chronic diseases from which they suffer. Additionally, they will have access to updated scientific articles and information on health-related topics.

How is the change in technology and market affecting your venture?

Artificial intelligence will play a key role in the development of digital health, using AI technologies for health data analysis, treatment personalization, and improving efficiency in healthcare systems. This helps provide better healthcare and address complex health challenges innovatively, benefiting from the growth of the telemedicine market, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are your plans for future growth and strategies to achieve them?

We plan to expand our presence in the digital health market, aiming to establish strategic partnerships with international companies and expand our clientele in Kosovo and Macedonia.

What makes you happiest in the venture you have started?

Twelve years ago, I was selected as one of the 12 most talented young people in technology and innovation, and now I have the privilege of positively impacting people’s health and well-being through this venture by integrating medicine and technology, which is essential to me!

What do you aim to achieve concretely in the next three years?

In the coming years, we aim to consolidate ourselves in the market as a leading company in the field of telemedicine in Albania.


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