Helina Soopalu: Meliva Digikliinik was built to offer care that’s as convenient, fast, and trustworthy as possible
The digitalisation of healthcare services is reshaping how we think about access to medical care, and one of the standout innovations in this space is Meliva's Digikliinik.
Digikliinik is a secure environment where primary care physicians are easily reachable for health questions — in real time, seven days a week. “While ordinary care can take days to access, patients using Digikliinik can reach a specialist within as little as ten minutes,” says Helina Soopalu, head of Meliva’s Digikliinik. “What’s more, 80% of patients have found a solution to their health concern within their very first consultation,” she adds.
Meliva’s Digikliinik has brought a new era to healthcare, offering fast, high-quality, patient-centred care through a convenient and secure platform. “Thanks to the secure platform, we’re also able to work with insurance companies. On top of that, we can offer remote consultations with specialists via video call,” Soopalu explains.
The quality of the service is also reflected in high patient satisfaction — users have rated the doctors on Meliva’s Digikliinik 4.86 out of 5. The service is available in Estonian, Russian, and English, making care accessible to a broader range of users.
A convenient and secure platform
Meliva’s Digikliinik runs on an application used in more than ten countries. The platform is designed to ensure safe and convenient access to healthcare services. “Patients can verify their identity using Smart-ID, Mobile-ID, or an ID card, which keeps their data private,” Soopalu explains. “This allows for easy, secure communication with doctors. Through the app, patients can securely share their health information with a specialist — for example, filling out a symptom questionnaire, adding photos of a rash or inflammation, and sending documents,” the head of Digikliinik adds.
“During a consultation, doctors can send additional questionnaires, order tests, issue prescriptions, and write referrals for further examinations,” Soopalu notes. All consultations are recorded within the Digikliinik system, and patients can later access their health data through the health portal as well.
What kinds of health concerns can Digikliinik help with?
Meliva’s Digikliinik offers help with a wide range of common health issues — the most frequent reasons for reaching out are cold symptoms, eye or bladder infection symptoms, skin rashes, and questions relating to children’s health. “The reasons people reach out shift with the seasons. In spring and summer, allergies and insect bites are more typical, while autumn and winter bring more acute colds,” says Soopalu. Patients can also get help with mental health and sexual health concerns, and Digikliinik doctors are able to issue sick leave and care leave certificates.
A remote appointment saved a summer holiday
Last summer, Gerli travelled to Pärnu to enjoy the warm weather, public events, and good restaurants the town has to offer. One morning, though, an unpleasant surprise awaited her — one of her eyes had swollen up badly. There was no sign of an insect bite, and the situation looked concerning. What was supposed to be a carefree, relaxing holiday took an unexpected turn.
Gerli decided to use Meliva’s Digikliinik to find a quick solution and save her holiday. She took a photo of her eye and sent it to a doctor through the app, receiving a reply almost immediately. The doctor first asked some clarifying questions and suggested trying a compress to see if the swelling would go down naturally. By the end of the remote consultation, they’d agreed that Gerli would follow the doctor’s advice and keep an eye on how things developed.
The next morning, the swelling had gotten much worse, so Gerli reached out to Digikliinik again. This time, a different doctor was on duty — but they were able to review the previous day’s conversation immediately, since the app keeps a history of all remote consultations. Since Gerli had followed the initial advice exactly, but without improvement, the doctor prescribed an antibiotic eye ointment. She was also given further advice to prevent the infection from spreading, such as replacing her towels and pillowcases.
Healthcare, wherever you are
Gerli was very pleased with the help she received through Digikliinik. She particularly valued the quick response and how thoroughly the doctors addressed her concern. “The biggest plus was the convenience — I could talk to a doctor right from where I was on holiday, without having to travel anywhere,” she says. “I also learned more about how to handle an infection like this and what to watch out for to help it heal faster.”
