E-Health System Life4me+
We, along with our friends, launched this project back in 2017. Working in a small research company in Russia, we witnessed the challenges faced by people living with HIV: they couldn’t access treatment, nobody tracked their progress, and discrimination levels were unacceptably high. That’s when we decided to leverage our existing experience in healthcare and a small news resource to create something bigger: a free, unified mobile support service for people with HIV. This service would include:
- A ’smart alarm’ protecting patient privacy,
- Direct communication with doctors,
- Maps of clinics and communities,
- Comprehensive health analytics, including health status, test results, and risks,
- Up-to-date news and more.
Gradually, our idea, which began as a simple mobile app, evolved into a full-fledged ecosystem with tens of thousands of users worldwide. Today, the Life4me+ Electronic Health System (EHS Life4me+) operates in 159 countries. It comprises three programs: iOS app, Android app, and a web portal, with hundreds of doctors and medical professionals from 60 countries connected.
The app is available in 15 languages: English, German, Russian, Ukrainian, French, Italian, among others. The website, www.life4me.plus, garners hundreds of thousands of unique views annually.
We take great pride in the results we’ve achieved, yet we have no intention of stopping. Year after year, the app gains new features, assisting a growing number of individuals in maintaining their quality of life and curbing the spread of STIs.
My project is special because E-Health System Life4me+ is the first in the world absolutely free electronic ecosystem for people who living with HIV.
For a person who learns they have HIV for the first time, it is crucial to begin treatment immediately. However, having psychological support in this situation is equally important. This can help overcome stigma, start treatment, and maintain it without interruption.
Our developed electronic healthcare system, Life4me+, helps establish a trusted channel between the doctor and the patient. It also grants individuals full access to their medical data and test results. The app tracks user actions and enables the doctor to stay informed about the patient’s remaining medication and dosage frequency.
Through «flexible reminders,» the EHS maintains medical confidentiality. Simultaneously, the electronic system is entirely secure and confidential – it neither stores nor requests personal data; users are identified solely through a unique code.
Fear of HIV breeds internal discrimination. To overcome this, it’s essential to talk about HIV, seek support, and share experiences. The app incorporates several functions dedicated to addressing these challenges. Reviews of scientific and reference medical information provide insight into the most critical questions, and visiting local self-help groups we’ve pinpointed on the map helps individuals find strength and confidence.
The comprehensive approach to solving the daily challenges faced by every person with HIV not only eases their life but also fosters community cohesion, dismantles discriminatory barriers, and elevates the effectiveness of HIV combat to new heights.
2 months of E-Health System Life4me+ work
To ensure that patients and doctors around the world can use the mobile application and portal for free, a lot of work is carried out every day, which requires significant costs. The ecosystem has been openly functioning since 2017 and is constantly receiving new additions and improvements.
The Life4me+ team consists of 20 people, 5 of which are responsible for programming. All of them are highly qualified and experienced.
The Life4me+ platform is multilingual and contains regularly updated content in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Russian, Ukrainian and other languages. We are often supported by activists, but their work must also be paid.
The smooth functioning of the ecosystem costs CHF 2.500.00 per month. This includes work:
4 content managers and editors - CHF 1.500.00 2 programmers (together with hosting) - CHF 500.00 2 project managers - CHF 250.00 5 translators - CHF 250.00
The company’s current budget deficit is 2 full months of system operation, or CHF 5,000.00.
