The pioneering healthcare company dedicated to addressing the critical shortage of doctors in Germany, LillianCare, has successfully closed a €1.5 million funding round with the participation of Ship2B Ventures through the BSocial Impact Fund – supported by Banco Sabadell, the EIF, and AXIS – Nina Capital, and Caesar, among other investors. The capital increase underscores strong investor confidence in LillianCare’s mission and innovative approach.
Shortage of healthcare professionals, a global trend
The number of healthcare professionals worldwide is decreasing, including doctors and nurses. The WHO estimates that by 2030, there will be a deficit of 10 million healthcare workers, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Chronic underinvestment in the education and training of healthcare personnel in some countries and the mismatch between education and employment strategies concerning healthcare systems and population needs are contributing to a continuing shortage. Since 2019, around 132 countries have experienced a shortage of 43 million healthcare professionals, of which 6.4 million are doctors and 30.6 million are nurses.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic greatly accentuated the pressure on healthcare personnel globally, adding burnout situations to a sector already showing signs of distress. The widespread shortage in the healthcare sector worsens the conditions for current workers, who may be exposed to long hours and inadequate resources and support.
Ageing population, a challenge for the healthcare sector
The ageing population in Europe continues to increase: according to European Commission forecasts, by 2030, 30% of the European Union’s population will be over 65, compared to 10% in 1960. Thus, this global trend implies a series of challenges that directly affect the population and accentuate their vulnerability. specifically, the most pressing risks include health conditions and access to healthcare services, issues of social isolation and unwanted loneliness, the digital divide, and access to social assistance.
These challenges are particularly severe in rural or remote areas experiencing both population ageing and depopulation due to a cycle of social and economic factors driving younger people to migrate to urban regions. Moreover, the combination of an ageing population, with the consequent growing demand for medical care, along with the lack of sufficient healthcare and social services in rural areas, adds even more pressure to healthcare systems and threatens the universal right to health.
LillianCare provides innovative responses to healthcare challenges
In Germany, there is a significant number of vacant general medical practices, with 4,100 vacancies currently. Additionally, 36% of German doctors are over 60 years old. In this context, LillianCare is a company founded in 2023 with the aim of directly addressing the doctor shortage challenge in Germany, ensuring high-quality local medical care for all people through hybrid general medical practices across the country.
Using models based on delegating medical tasks to qualified professionals and innovative technologies, LillianCare is developing stable national-scale solutions for patient-centred medicine in underserved regions. Their proposal offers a significant improvement to the quality of life for the most vulnerable patients while strengthening the healthcare system by enabling residents of underserved areas to receive on-site medical care, avoiding travel to more populated areas.
“The innovative hybrid practice model of LillianCare and their dedication to improving healthcare accessibility resonate deeply with our mission to drive social impact. We believe their approach will not only provide immediate relief to underserved communities but also set a new standard in the healthcare industry.”
Jordi Ferrer, Investment Director at Ship2b Ventures
Investors Nina Capital and Caesar, along with Calmstorm and Björn von Siemens, have once again demonstrated their support by reinvesting in LillianCare. This continued backing from established investors underscores their belief in LillianCare’s capacity to address Germany’s urgent healthcare needs.
“We are humbled and grateful for the ongoing support of our current investors and excited to welcome new investors who share our vision,”
Linus Drop, CEO and co-founder of LillianCare.