Although the current time offers various opportunities for relaxation, HealthTech of the Week keeps up the pace! In November, a gala took place to summarize the third edition of the Mother and Child Startup Challenge (MCSC) organized by the Institute of Mother and Child (IMiD), and in early April, the report summarizing the event was published. As silver partners of the project, we are pleased that this is not just a report on the competition’s progress, but primarily a barometer of the changes occurring in the Polish healthcare system.

The Mother and Child Startup Challenge is an initiative by the Institute of Mother and Child that, from the very beginning, aimed to create space for cooperation between the startup world and the public healthcare sector. In the third edition of the competition, for which we managed PR communication, a record number of entries were recorded, confirming that innovators are increasingly looking at collaboration with medical institutions with greater confidence.

From a strategic communication perspective, MCSC is becoming not only a platform for piloting modern solutions but also a channel for promoting and validating market medtech projects. It is here that trust in new technologies is built, laying the foundation for their further expansion.

Key numbers and insights regarding communication

The report repeatedly highlights that the third edition of MCSC attracted the largest number of entries so far. However, what deserves particular recognition is the thematic diversity, as the projects covered areas such as diagnostics, perinatal care, patient data management, artificial intelligence-based solutions, and telemedicine. Such a broad spectrum shows that innovation in medicine is no longer a niche but a strategic development direction.

Moreover, the report indicates that the success of a medtech project depends not only on the quality of the technology but also on the ability to build a narrative. PR plays the role of a bridge between the technological environment and the recipients: doctors, patients, and decision-makers. Expert storytelling, transparency, and education are tools that transform innovation into an understandable and acceptable solution.

Startups that succeeded in previous MCSC editions show that a key aspect of their development was the ability to communicate not only technological value but also practical and emotional value. This is precisely the role of PR: creating space for dialogue, reducing cognitive barriers, and building bridges between modernity and daily clinical practice.

The future of the program and new opportunities

With the announcement that future editions will operate under the new name „MCSC Hospital Leadership Innovation,” the creators of the program emphasize the need for systemic change. Innovation can no longer be treated as an addition but must become an integral element of healthcare facility management strategies.

From the perspective of strategic communication, this is an excellent moment to redefine the role of hospital leaders as ambassadors of change. They are the key players in the technology adoption process and also the ones who require communication support.

The role of Public Relations in medtech

The report on the third edition of MCSC clearly shows that for the PR sector, it is crucial to create individualized communication strategies embedded in clinical realities that combine technological knowledge with empathy and an understanding of the needs of the audience. Effective PR for medtech companies is primarily storytelling based on the practical value of innovation, translated into a language understandable for patients, doctors, and decision-makers.

Presence in industry media, collaboration with opinion leaders, and building expert narratives around technology are actions that significantly increase the credibility of startups. Education is equally important—both for the medical community, which needs support in implementing novelties, and for patients themselves, who are increasingly becoming partners in the treatment process. PR agencies should take on the role of strategic advisors, helping startups not only with promotion but also with building long-term relationships with the healthcare ecosystem.

MCSC is not just a competition. It is a vehicle for systemic change, a validation platform, and a space for building narratives around technology. The report from its third edition clearly shows that the healthcare sector in Poland is maturing to accept innovations but at the same time needs professional communication support. For PR agencies, this represents both a challenge and a huge opportunity to have a real impact on the future of medicine.

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Stay tuned for more in the “Health Tech of the Week” series, where we’ll continue to uncover fascinating stories from the world of medical technologies that are changing the face of healthcare. If you’re working on an innovative project in the field of new technologies and medicine or want to recommend an interesting solution, contact us at: [email protected].

In our HealthTech of the Week series, we strive to explore a wide variety of topics. Observing the dynamic shifts in the healthcare sector—rising patient expectations and growing financial pressure—medical facilities are increasingly turning to digital tools that can streamline resource management, optimize costs, and improve service quality. One of the innovative solutions gaining traction in the medical field is Medby, a Polish medical procurement platform.

Just like many Polish medtech innovations, Medby was created in response to the concrete needs of the healthcare market. Traditional procurement methods—based on phone calls, emails, and inefficient paperwork—were time-consuming and costly. That’s why the creators decided to develop a tool that simplifies and standardizes the purchase process for medical, hygiene, diagnostic, office, and food products, using the latest technological capabilities.

– Operating as a multi-vendor marketplace, Medby connects medical facilities with a wide base of suppliers and manufacturers. The platform enables browsing and comparing offers, ordering directly from the system, budget control, and purchase history analysis. Importantly for healthcare providers, it also supports group purchasing, which strengthens negotiation power with suppliers and contributes to cost optimization — explains Jakub Stępnowski, Chief Growth Officer & Co-founder of Medby.

According to the founders, using Medby in daily operations brings measurable benefits. It cuts order processing time by up to 50%, reduces operational costs by 10–30%, and minimizes ordering errors through digital inventory control and purchase tracking. Facilities also gain greater transparency and regulatory compliance, making audits much easier. The platform is adapted to various types of facilities, from hospitals and care homes to aesthetic medicine clinics. Its flexibility allows each organization to use functions tailored to its scale and specific needs.

Medby also includes a range of practical UX functions, such as an intuitive search engine, filtering system, order basket creation, purchasing trend analysis, and report generation. Each facility is assigned a personal support advisor, ensuring smooth onboarding and continuous assistance. The registration process takes just one day, and the system operates entirely online, with no need to install additional software. So the question is: Is this a true must-have for every medical facility facing procurement challenges?

AI as a driving force

This Polish innovation is still evolving, but it’s a great example of the significant potential for AI in such platforms. Artificial intelligence could enhance many aspects of the system’s operation. For instance, AI can support personalized product recommendations based on a facility’s purchase history and preferences, greatly accelerating decision-making and reducing the risk of errors.

AI could also assist in the automatic analysis of supply usage and forecast future needs based on seasonality, patient volume changes, or the introduction of new procedures. This would allow facilities to better manage stock levels and avoid both shortages and overstocking.

Another promising use of AI is anomaly detection and fraud prevention, which would increase procurement security and reduce the risk of financial loss. Machine learning systems could also assist in budget optimization by analyzing spending patterns and identifying potential savings areas.

Automatically generating procurement baskets in line with a facility’s standards, integrating with supplier catalogs, and dynamically analyzing real-time pricing are other promising features AI could bring. Moreover, artificial intelligence could be used to analyze market trends and deliver forecasts, enabling healthcare managers to make more strategic purchasing decisions.

Medby’s role in the future of polish healthtech

Medby stands out as one of the most promising digital tools supporting the medical sector in Poland. Its strengths lie in ease of use, real cost savings, and high functionality. The potential introduction of AI is a natural next step in the platform’s evolution, opening the door to even deeper transformation within the healthtech and medtech sectors. In a world where digitalization is becoming a necessity rather than a luxury, tools like Medby are poised to become a foundation of the modern healthcare system.

We hope Medby will continue to strengthen its market position and grow into a solution that supports not just purchasing but also strategic operational decision-making. Based on our observations and the solutions featured in HealthTech of the Week, this approach perfectly aligns with the needs of modern medicine—focusing on efficiency, quality, and automation.

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Stay tuned for more in the “Health Tech of the Week” series, where we’ll continue to uncover fascinating stories from the world of medical technologies that are changing the face of healthcare. If you’re working on an innovative project in the field of new technologies and medicine or want to recommend an interesting solution, contact us at: [email protected].

Spring is the time when we start wearing more revealing clothes, which can expose us to minor skin injuries. Together with the HealthTech of the Week team, we found this the perfect moment to introduce the Polish biotech company Biotts. The company has developed an innovative technology that effectively penetrates medicinal substances through the skin, eliminating the need for injections and tablets. Thanks to the patented MTC-Y™ carrier, it is now possible to deliver even large active molecules, opening new therapeutic possibilities in diabetology, oncology, and cardiology.

What caught our attention about Biotts is its development of a unique transdermal drug delivery system that surpasses the boundaries set by classical pharmacology. Founded in 2018 by Dr. Jan Meller, Konrad Krajewski, and his associate, the company was born out of a desire to verify academic claims about the limitations of transporting active substances through the skin. Traditionally, it was believed that the skin is an impermeable barrier for molecules weighing more than 500 Da. The Biotts team disproved this assumption by developing a carrier that allows the transport of substances with a mass of up to 6000 Da, opening entirely new possibilities in pharmacology.

The company’s key asset is its patented MTC-Y™ carrier, a mixture of substances that enable transdermal transport of both lipophilic and hydrophilic molecules. This system allows active substances to effectively penetrate the skin without causing irritation, ensuring stable and precise drug delivery. One of its major advantages is the ability to create multi-component transdermal formulations, supporting combination therapies. It also increases the bioavailability of active substances, which can lead to a reduction in drug dosages while maintaining effectiveness. Additionally, it minimizes side effects, particularly those affecting the digestive system, and enhances patient comfort by eliminating the need for injections or tablets.

Biotts’ technology has applications in various therapeutic fields. In addition to diabetology—where intensive research on transdermal insulin is underway—the company is focusing on cardiology, exploring solutions for transdermal delivery of blood pressure and heart rhythm-regulating drugs.

– We are also working on a carrier that delivers active substances used in the treatment of breast cancer, as well as pain management solutions that enable more effective and controlled dosing of analgesics – says Paweł Biernat, CTO of Biotts.

Why is this so important?

The introduction of transdermal drug delivery systems brings significant economic and clinical benefits. By increasing the bioavailability of active substances, pharmaceutical raw materials can be used more efficiently, reducing drug production costs. Furthermore, the transdermal route minimizes the need for single-use medical equipment such as needles and syringes, which is particularly crucial in developing countries where hygiene and sterility pose major challenges.

Patients also benefit from avoiding painful injections, which is especially important for chronic treatments like diabetes. The discretion and convenience of transdermal systems improve treatment adherence—a key factor in therapeutic success.

Despite promising research results, introducing new transdermal drugs comes with regulatory challenges. Unlike the well-established registration procedures for oral and injectable drugs, transdermal products require additional studies and adaptations to meet the requirements of various regulatory agencies. Biotts aims to obtain registration through an accelerated or hybrid pathway, which could significantly lower the cost of bringing the product to market.

The future of transdermatology

The company is actively expanding internationally, opening a Biotts US branch to establish strategic collaborations with global pharmaceutical corporations. Presence in the American market is a key element of its development strategy, potentially accelerating regulatory approvals and commercializing new products. Over the next five years, Biotts plans to continue research on transdermal insulin, develop innovative oncological therapies, and launch the first phase of clinical trials for additional products.

– Our long-term goal is to create a comprehensive platform for transdermal drug delivery that will revolutionize the treatment of many chronic diseases and provide patients worldwide with more effective and convenient therapies – emphasizes the company’s CTO.

Biotts exemplifies a biotech company that combines cutting-edge scientific research with real-world impact on the future of pharmacotherapy. Thanks to its innovative MTC-Y™ technology and the determination of its research team, it has created a solution that could significantly improve patients’ quality of life and optimize healthcare costs on a global scale. As transdermal technologies continue to evolve, Biotts has the potential to become a leader in modern drug delivery, setting new standards in personalized medicine and 21st-century pharmacy. We believe this won’t be the last we hear of them!

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Stay tuned for more in the “Health Tech of the Week” series, where we’ll continue to uncover fascinating stories from the world of medical technologies that are changing the face of healthcare. If you’re working on an innovative project in the field of new technologies and medicine or want to recommend an interesting solution, contact us at: [email protected].

Ensuring continuity of care for patients after surgical procedures is one of the key challenges of modern medicine. Often, patients are left without adequate support after being discharged from the hospital, which can lead to complications. The answer to this problem is iWound, a platform designed to effectively monitor wound healing and preoperative prehabilitation. What solutions does it offer, and what challenges has it overcome?

When speaking with Medtech company representatives, the HealthTech of the Week team frequently hears human stories that serve as a driving force for innovation. This was also the case with iWound, which was inspired by the experiences of Professor Tomasz Banasiewicz, a surgeon who recognized the problems caused by a lack of continuity in postoperative care.

Patients who experience worrying symptoms after leaving the hospital often don’t know where to seek help. The lack of quick access to a specialist leads to unnecessary stress and, in many cases, serious health complications. iWound was created as a response to these issues.

– The platform allows patients to send photos of their wounds and descriptions of symptoms directly to specialists. Based on this information, the doctor assesses the patient’s condition and decides on further treatment—without requiring an in-person visit. This solution helps avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, speeds up response to early signs of infection, and increases patient comfort – says Katarzyna Linette from Polmedi.

Prehabilitation – preparing patients for surgery

Another major challenge in healthcare is preparing patients for surgical procedures. Traditionally, patients received paper-based recommendations, which were often overlooked or ignored. iWound revolutionizes this approach by offering an active prehabilitation program.

Through daily tasks, reminders, and progress tracking, patients can better prepare for surgery, leading to shorter recovery times and a lower risk of complications. Specialists can monitor the patient’s health status in real time, allowing for a quicker response to any issues.

– iWound is not an automated diagnostic system—its goal is to assist doctors in making informed decisions. By analyzing wound images, symptom descriptions, and health survey results, the system accelerates clinical decision-making while also simplifying medical documentation. The platform generates reports and integrates with hospital systems, making the workflow more efficient – explains a Polmedi representative.

When it comes to telemedicine, ensuring patient data security is critical. iWound employs state-of-the-art encryption standards for both data storage and transmission. All information is stored on servers in Poland, and communication between patients and doctors is fully secured.

The future of telemedicine and iWound’s development

In the future, iWound plans to integrate artificial intelligence algorithms for wound image analysis. Initial tests of this technology have been promising, but full implementation will require additional funding. Currently, work is underway on algorithms that analyze patient responses in health surveys, which will further enhance treatment support.

The platform’s creators emphasize that telemedicine is the future of healthcare. iWound is already enabling faster and more efficient communication between patients and doctors. Plans for further development include AI and big data solutions to provide even more personalized treatments.

Thanks to this innovation, patients can feel safer, and doctors have access to more comprehensive information, leading to better treatment outcomes. This is a step toward modern, accessible, and effective healthcare—one we are excited to support!

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Stay tuned for more in the “Health Tech of the Week” series, where we’ll continue to uncover fascinating stories from the world of medical technologies that are changing the face of healthcare. If you’re working on an innovative project in the field of new technologies and medicine or want to recommend an interesting solution, contact us at: [email protected].

Not long ago, in HealthTech of the Week, we introduced solutions primarily aimed at children. This time, we are focusing on seniors. The development of modern technologies is opening new possibilities for elderly therapy, especially in the context of cognitive and motor rehabilitation. In response to the needs of seniors and the specialists caring for their health, the GRYDSEN tool was created, utilizing virtual reality to support therapy. This innovative approach significantly enhances the effectiveness of exercises and improves the quality of life for patients.

GRYDSEN was designed for seniors requiring support in cognitive and physical rehabilitation. Traditional therapy methods, based on manual exercises, were often not engaging enough, negatively impacting their regular use. The project team, after analyzing available research on VR technology and its therapeutic potential, decided to develop a tool that innovatively combines virtual reality with senior rehabilitation. Particular attention was given to the impact of simultaneous cognitive and motor function stimulation on therapy effectiveness.

– In the cognitive sphere, the tool helps improve working and long-term memory, enhance concentration and spatial orientation, and refine problem-solving skills – explains Michał Majcherek, CEO of GRYDSEN. – In the motor aspect, it supports hand-eye coordination, movement precision, and overall physical fitness, tailored to the individual capabilities of patients.

A brand new world for seniors

Virtual reality stands out due to its high level of immersion, leading to greater senior engagement in the therapeutic process. It eliminates distracting environmental stimuli, allowing patients to focus entirely on their exercises. As a result, therapy becomes more effective, and seniors can perform tasks in a safe, controlled environment. Moreover, GRYDSEN offers the possibility of customizing therapeutic scenarios to individual needs, ensuring that the rehabilitation process is personalized and adapted to the severity of the patient’s conditions.

A typical therapy session using this tool lasts between 20 to 40 minutes. By putting on VR goggles, the senior is introduced to an interactive exercise world that includes both simple motor tasks and more complex cognitive activities. The system guides the user through therapy stages, monitoring progress and adjusting the difficulty level according to individual abilities. The entire process can be supervised by a therapist who can adjust the exercises as needed to ensure correct execution.

Overcoming initial challenges

Developing the tool involved many challenges, with the most significant being the creation of an intuitive and ergonomic interface tailored to seniors’ needs. Another crucial aspect was optimizing game mechanics to ensure accessibility for individuals with limited mobility. A key element of the project development was also validating the tool’s effectiveness, conducted under the supervision of an ethics committee in collaboration with senior clubs. This enabled a reliable assessment of VR therapy’s impact on improving patients’ cognitive and motor functions.

Initially, seniors may approach VR technology with some hesitation, fearing difficulties in operating the device. However, practice shows that intuitive controls and simple interaction mechanisms significantly ease the adaptation process. Therapist support during the first sessions plays a crucial role, but after a short period of use, seniors gain confidence and become more willing to engage with GRYDSEN, further enhancing their motivation for regular exercise.

The tool is designed so that seniors can perform exercises independently, guided automatically through therapy sessions. However, the presence of a therapist or caregiver is recommended to ensure safety, particularly for those with balance issues or other health limitations. GRYDSEN also offers extensive therapy customization, allowing the difficulty level and type of exercises to be tailored to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. This makes therapy more effective and better suited to the actual needs of each patient.

Looking ahead

In our opinion, implementing GRYDSEN in care and medical facilities can bring numerous benefits. Therapy effectiveness significantly increases, leading to better rehabilitation outcomes. Patients show greater engagement in exercises, while therapists can optimize their work by monitoring progress and better tailoring therapy to individual senior needs. Thanks to modern solutions, rehabilitation becomes more efficient and appealing, directly improving patients’ quality of life.

• We are continuously working on further developing the tool. We plan to expand therapeutic scenarios and introduce advanced analytical functions that will enable even more precise therapy customization to seniors’ individual needs. We are also considering integration with telemedicine systems, allowing for remote monitoring of rehabilitation progress and ongoing assessment of therapy effectiveness – says Michał Majcherek.

GRYDSEN represents a breakthrough in senior therapy, combining modern technology with the rehabilitation needs of the elderly. By leveraging virtual reality, therapy becomes more engaging, effective, and tailored to the individual capabilities of patients.

The HealthTech of the Week team firmly believes that introducing this tool into medical facilities and senior homes can significantly enhance the quality of care and the effectiveness of cognitive-motor rehabilitation. As society continues to age, solutions like this could play a key role in ensuring seniors live longer, more active, and healthier lives.

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Stay tuned for more in the “Health Tech of the Week” series, where we’ll continue to uncover fascinating stories from the world of medical technologies that are changing the face of healthcare. If you’re working on an innovative project in the field of new technologies and medicine or want to recommend an interesting solution, contact us at: [email protected].