Your Doctor To Your Home: Pioneering Domiciliary Care in Libya
The healthcare system in Libya has suffered greatly from years of conflict and instability, leaving hospitals and medical centres grappling with numerous challenges such as frequent power outages, a lack of essential medical supplies, and severe staff shortages. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated these issues, pushing the country’s medical care to the brink of collapse. In this difficult landscape, doctors face tremendous challenges daily, with the remnants of Libya’s healthcare system in disarray.
Amidst these challenges, hope emerges from young entrepreneurs like Dr. Mohammed Al-Wared. In 2019, he founded Your Doctor To Your Home, a domiciliary care business that delivers essential medical services directly to patients in their homes. This service has quickly become a lifeline for many in the community, especially as they navigate the economic and social difficulties intensified by the pandemic. Dr. Al-Wared’s initiative prioritises safer, more convenient healthcare access, providing critical support during a time when traditional healthcare systems are under severe strain.
Dr. Al-Wared’s motivation for founding Your Doctor To Your Home is deeply personal. It began when he cared for his grandfather, who struggled to access medical care due to mobility issues and a lack of supportive healthcare infrastructure. “Living with my grandfather in a seventh-floor apartment made it obvious how hard it was for him to get the care he needed,” he explains. This experience inspired Dr. Al-Wared to create a service that delivers compassionate care to those who cannot travel. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgency of his mission, as many people were unable or afraid to visit healthcare facilities due to health risks and restrictions. This only strengthened his belief in the need for a service that adapts to the community’s needs, ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive the care they deserve.
The journey for Your Doctor To Your Home has not been without its struggles. The Libyan economy, heavily dependent on oil and gas, presents significant challenges for young entrepreneurs like Dr. Al-Wared. Prolonged conflicts and bureaucratic obstacles often stifle the growth of the private sector and limit access to essential resources. In this challenging environment, the healthcare sector faces dire circumstances; over a million Libyans have acute health needs, and half of the healthcare facilities that were operational in 2019 are no longer functioning due to ongoing security issues and inadequate government funding. Furthemore, the uncommon concept of domiciliary care in Libya wasn’t immediately accepted; many people were skeptical. “Convincing people that a doctor can come to their homes was hard until we proved to them that it can happen,” he explains.
In this context of uncertainty, Your Doctor To Your Home found crucial support through the Libya Startup Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by SPARK and Super Novae. This initiative aims to foster entrepreneurship and innovation within Libya’s challenging market. As part of this program, the Asarya Business Incubator provided a solid foundation for growth and development. Out of over 380 applicants, the startup was one of just 26 selected for an intensive six-month incubation program that offered valuable training, mentorship, and resources tailored to the unique challenges of the Libyan market. “Participating in Asarya was a game-changer for us,” Dr. Al-Wared states. “The insights we gained helped us refine our approach and develop the business acumen necessary to navigate the complexities of our environment.”
After completing the program, Your Doctor To Your Home achieved remarkable success by winning first place in the Asarya Startup Competition, which came with a prize of €20,000. This funding is set to enhance their services and improve their operational capacity. “Every bit of support helps us to grow and serve our patients better,” Dr. Al-Wared notes.
The positive effects of the startup are felt locally in Benghazi, having created between 50 to 70 jobs for medical professionals, including doctors across various specialities, male and female nurses, physiotherapists, cupping therapists, and ambulance drivers. “The more we expand, the more jobs we create,” Dr. Al-Warrad affirms, highlighting the service’s growth potential within the community.
Ultimately, Dr. Al-Warrad remains dedicated to expanding Your Doctor To Your Home while staying true to the needs of the local community. “My motivation to continue working in this startup is the positive impact of our services. We provided a solution to their problems and created job opportunities,” he affirms. Through its targeted approach and commitment to community care, The team at Your Doctor To Your Home aspires to establish a model akin to those found abroad, where house calls by general practitioners are commonplace. Ehab Al-Shaafi, a nursing supervisor, emphasizes this aim, stating, “We want to have general practitioners perform house calls in every neighbourhood while also having male and female medical staff.”