Telemedicine Station

Telemedicine is still in its early stages in the healthcare sector in Bulgaria. However, video calls and sharing medical data over a camera online are not telemedicine, says Hristo Buchkov, manager and owner of Hubis Ltd—an IT company with over 10 years of experience in telemedicine and one of the pioneers in the field.

The biography of the 35-year-old entrepreneur seems destined for what he has dedicated himself to. He graduated in Marketing from the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) and Healthcare Management from the Medical University of Plovdiv. In 2008, he founded the medical software company Hubis Ltd, which now employs about ten people. The company collaborates with “Telemedicine Center Bulgaria” Ltd, established two years ago, which conducts medical examinations.

The idea of personalized medicine and telemedicine occurred to Buchkov when his personal doctor asked him to measure his blood pressure every morning and evening for a month, record the data in a notebook, and bring it for diagnosis. He started looking for blood pressure devices that could record readings on his phone and send them to his doctor. Few such solutions existed, and all lacked something essential. This led him to the idea of a health record platform that could be easily shared with personal and treating physicians and linked to devices measuring various medical parameters. Using a bank loan and money earned from developing medical software at Hubis, he began this new venture.

Core Business of Hubis
The primary focus of Hubis is mobile diagnostic and telemedicine stations. These resemble massage chairs that measure various parameters using medical equipment and are connected to a tall panel with controls that manage and direct the collected data. While the hardware is imported, the software is developed by Hubis. The telemedicine station is certified under Directive 93/42/EEC for medical devices.

Health Screening in Under 5 Minutes
In just three to five minutes, the station can measure 11 basic medical parameters—height, weight, body mass index (BMI), pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood glucose, routine urine analysis, and lung capacity.

The data is entirely secure, stored in an electronic record developed by Hubis, and even the company does not know the identity of the person being examined. Naturally, the results must be interpreted by a doctor. The idea is for the data to be available to the doctor while the patient waits for a consultation, so when they enter the doctor’s office, the doctor can immediately review and interpret the data. Information from the personal account of the person examined can also be sent to “Telemedicine Center Bulgaria,” which can recommend additional tests or specialist consultations if necessary.

These basic tests fully meet the requirements for annual preventative checkups under the National Health Insurance Fund. Employers can purchase or rent such a station for a period and place it in an appropriate space. They will not have access to employees’ personal health records but can receive aggregated information, such as how many employees have high blood pressure, and potentially take measures to prevent health risks.

Hubis Cloud Health Platform
The Hubis electronic health record is hosted on the Hubis Cloud Health platform, ensuring secure management of health archives. This private cloud service allows for the long-term and automated storage of medical information, documents, and data. Through the health record, individuals can monitor their medication schedules and receive notifications for taking their medicine.

Business Model
Hubis operates on a B2B (business-to-business) model. The company works with insurance companies and directly with other businesses. The goal is to sell the stations as a service rather than a product. “That’s why we have targeted the shared economy model, focusing on shared office spaces in business centers,” Buchkov says.

Another target market includes diagnostic and consultative centers (DCCs) and general practitioners (GPs). According to Buchkov, DCCs have little interest in mobile stations, and GPs are often reluctant to collaborate. Therefore, they will be offered pay-as-you-go services rather than purchasing or renting a station. Hubis has used its stations in Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, Bankya, and Hisarya.

A Vision for Better Health Culture
Buchkov dreams of improving health culture in Bulgaria and shifting the focus to prevention. He notes that nearly 30% of healthcare spending in the European Union goes toward disease prevention, compared to only 5% in Bulgaria. As a result, the Bulgarian system pays for treating illnesses, while in the UK, the focus is on paying for cures.

He also highlights another issue—the lack of legal regulations for telemedicine activities in the EU, with Poland being the only exception. Meanwhile, the largest market for telemedicine services is in the United States, where expenses are covered by health insurance.

Children’s Camps and Remote Villages
A significant part of Buchkov and his team’s activities involves charitable initiatives, such as health screenings for children in Plovdiv, Vratsa, and various locations in the Rhodope Mountains. They have partnered with the Bulgarian Red Cross and the Association of Bulgarian Volunteers to assist Ukrainian refugees. The team has donated five portable pediatric telemedicine devices to locations in Plovdiv, Sofia, and a sports camp with 200 children in Ribaritsa. Plans include donating 20 more devices and hiring full-time doctors to analyze data and provide diagnostic consultations. These devices can measure lung, heart, throat, and ear health in children. For instance, one Ukrainian child was diagnosed with an ear infection (otitis) through such a screening and received timely medical attention.

“We are committed to continuing our project in Bulgaria’s more remote areas, where access to healthcare is severely limited,” Buchkov says. A major international Jewish humanitarian organization supports the project. After all, telemedicine worldwide is largely a humanitarian endeavor.