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Kry is one of the online medical companies that invests heavily in opening its own health centers. The company calls it a natural part of the development where they want to be able to offer more patients flexible “digi-physical” care.
The investment has gone well. In a month, 10,000 patients have been enrolled at Kry’s two health centers in Stockholm, a number that could take years to reach other newly opened health centers.
For each person who registers in Kry, the company receives a sum of money from the region that is paid every month.
– We already have a large patient base in Stockholm and I imagine that many of our current patients think they are “finally opening a health center” and choose to include them here, says Erik Hjelmstedt, manager of Sweden at Kry.
Patients don’t understand
At the same time, both patients and doctors from the Skåne and Stockholm regions have contacted SVT and claim that Kry is playing an ugly game.
The online medical company urges patients to re-register with Kry directly in the company’s care app, without patients understanding what it means, according to critics.
– I have received several testimonies about patients who did not understand that a list with Kry means that they choose not to participate in their current health center, says Ylva Sandström, president of the District Medical Association in Stockholm.
Abnormally, many leave the Kry spring center
Kry opened its first health center in Lund at the end of 2018. A total of 24,880 people from Skåne have chosen to register there. Statistics from the Skåne Region show, however, that almost half, 11,446 people, have chosen to leave the health center.
– It is an abnormally high figure, you can definitely say that, says Göran Stiernstedt, state health researcher.
– This indicates that the information on reinstatement has not been optimal. It’s normal to keep your token after switching, he says.
Ordinary care is threatened
Representatives of both private and public health centers are also raising the alarm that Krys’ entry into physical primary care threatens the finances of ordinary health centers.
– The consequences will be that we will not be able to have the staff we need, says Olof Lindqvist at Mellersta Skånes Läkareförening.
Unfair criticism
Kry emphasizes that they follow current regulations and that the regions have had no objection to either the establishment of Kry or the possibility of allowing patients to register through its application.
– I find it a bit difficult to understand the criticisms that are constantly directed at us. We run a healthcare facility like everyone else and focus on the best interests of the patient, says Erik Hjelmstedt, Sweden manager at Kry.
