Lydia Graflund Nominated for Digital Rising Star of the Year

Together with her sister, Helena Graflund Lagercrantz, Lydia Graflund founded the healthtech company EsterCare. The company operates in two areas: healthcare, offering both physical and digital services to women in Sweden, and their preventive health platform aimed at workplaces.

– It was largely about what we saw as ‘low-hanging fruit’—making specialist gynecological care more accessible to women. In the north, the waiting time to see a specialist gynecologist can be up to two years, and in the south, it can take a year, says Lydia Graflund in the Swedish podcast Digitala influencer-podden.

The motivation behind the company was clearly evident to the sisters in the statistics.

– Many of the patients who come to us have been unwell for many years. Women are approximately 80 percent sicker than men, according to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. And this has been the case consistently from 1994 until today.

She continues:

– All these 80 percent of the women in our population can’t get access to gynecologists; there aren’t enough healthcare appointments for that. So we have to divide the health journey. That’s why we started with our preventive health screening, which is the first step when you enter our health portal.

Through the annual health screening, potential issues or abnormalities that need further investigation can be identified. Based on the answers from the screening tool, a personalized health plan is created for the woman using AI. Every part of the health plan is developed by a cross-functional team, ensuring a holistic approach is considered.

Integrating areas beyond just medical treatments is something Lydia finds lacking in healthcare. Lifestyle changes and self-care have a significant impact on women’s well-being, and there is a strong demand for scientifically grounded information and advice in these areas.

– It’s very common not to realize that issues related to women’s health are actually due to women’s health. Many women entering menopause think they’re dealing with depression, but they’re really experiencing hormonal fluctuations that can be treated. That’s the kind of journey we can help with, guiding them to the right resources within the healthcare system.

Streamlining Healthcare

In the future, Lydia Graflund sees significant opportunities to develop technology that improves healthcare for women.

– There are so many ways to make healthcare more efficient. One thing we’re implementing right now is a tool that allows us to dictate medical records. This will greatly enhance the quality of the healthcare interaction because it allows the doctor to focus much more on the patient.

She adds:

– We’re also attempting an innovative solution for women’s health as a whole. We’re working to develop a tool and a service that identifies women early on in the process in a preventive way and then takes them on a personalized health journey. This hasn’t been achieved before.

The sisters continue to invest in women’s health in Sweden while also observing interest from other Nordic countries.

– We see that the workplaces we’re talking to want to implement this in their offices in other countries. The Nordic region is the most accessible starting point, but we’re also looking at other countries in Europe. I believe there will be great opportunities to expand this internationally.

Through her work and deep passion for women’s healthcare in Sweden, Lydia Graflund has created something unique and innovative, making her a deserving nominee for Digital Rising Star of the Year at the Consid Awards 2024. The nomination reads:

EsterCare makes it possible for women to take control of their health in a simple and accessible way. Through their groundbreaking work in digital healthcare, EsterCare offers an innovative platform for digital consultations with gynecologists, midwives, and sexologists. EsterCare not only simplifies access to expert care but also promotes a holistic perspective on women’s health, improving quality of life at every stage of life.

With their dedication, EsterCare has provided inclusive and accessible care, combined with a strong focus on educating and empowering women to understand their own bodies. Their work creates a future where every woman can feel safe and well-informed about her health concerns.

Listen to the episode on the Swedish podcast Digitala influencer-podden on January 9.