The digital healthcare revolution — where technology meets life and death

Ethics, morals, life, and death – the biggest stakes of all. Healthcare is the sexiest industry there is. At least if you ask Kalle Conneryd Lundgren, Global CEO of SCC UK Member Kry – who is leading in combining medical expertise with the latest technology. We caught up with him at Kry’s UK offices to talk about the future of healthcare, patient care, and what his younger self would think of the dynamic career he’s built.

Few industries balance purpose and business like healthcare. It’s a sector that shapes lives, challenges ethics, and drives innovation at a scale unmatched by most. 

For Kalle Conneryd Lundgren, recently appointed Global CEO of Kry (known as Livi in the UK), healthcare is more of a mission than an industry. Over the past decade, Kry has been taking the lead in digital healthcare, challenging long-held perceptions and reshaping access to medical services across Europe. As the company continues to expand its presence in the UK, Kalle reflects on its journey, the challenges of healthcare innovation, and the road ahead.

A digital revolution in healthcare

Kry was born in Sweden in 2014, a response to founder Johannes Schildt’s frustration with limited healthcare access. Johannes simply wanted an easier way to consult a doctor when needed. The solution? Moving medical consultations online.

At the time, the idea was simple: it should be possible to have a digital consultation rather than a physical one,” explains Kalle. “But back then, most clinicians said, ‘No, this is impossible. You must be able to touch and squeeze the patient.’”

Despite initial scepticism, Kry persisted, proving that virtual consultations could not only work but also be favourable. It took five years to gain real traction, and when Covid-19 accelerated the use of digital healthcare, Kry had already positioned itself as a leader. By then, digital consultations had gone from a radical idea to an essential service.

However, Kry’s ambitions extended beyond proving that video consultations were possible. “A couple of years ago, the fight for legitimacy was won. The next question was, ‘What now?’” says Kalle. “We needed to prove that digital healthcare could make the entire system more efficient, not just more convenient.”

Expanding the model: from digital to integrated care

For digital healthcare to be truly transformative, it needs to go beyond isolated consultations. Kry’s focus today is on integrating digital services into a broader healthcare journey.

“If you just replace physical consultations with digital ones, it won’t move the needle much,” Kalle explains. “The real question is: how do we ensure patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right setting?”

In the Nordics, Kry has already taken steps towards this integration, combining digital and physical healthcare services. The goal is to replicate this model in the UK by partnering with physical healthcare providers or even operating physical facilities alongside digital consultations.

“We don’t believe in a distinction between digital and physical patients,” he says. “Every patient will need both at different points in their life, and tying these together is what we do as a company.”
The UK challenge: regulation and adoption

While UK patients have embraced digital healthcare, the system itself has been slower to adapt. Unlike the Nordics, where national reimbursement systems accommodate digital services, the UK is yet to fully integrate digital care within the NHS framework.

“The public has welcomed our solution – patients see the benefit of avoiding long waits and travel for a quality consultation,” Kalle notes. “But the healthcare system hasn’t yet established clear ways to handle this effectively. There’s still no national reimbursement system for digital healthcare, and there’s uncertainty about how it should tie into physical care.”

With a potential shift in government priorities, Kalle and Kry are optimistic about change. “The NHS understands that it needs to modernise. There’s a lot of interest in how we’ve done things in the Nordics, and we believe our model can be adopted here too.”

A leader at the intersection of medicine and technology

After two years as Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operations Officer at Kry, Kalle became Global CEO in December 2024. With that, he brought a unique blend of expertise to the role. Kalle’s background spans theoretical physics, biophysics, biochemistry, and surgery – an unusual but powerful combination for leading a healthcare technology company.

“I started in theoretical physics, did a PhD in biophysics and biochemistry, then became a clinician and associate professor of surgery,” he says. “I can write code, and I understand medicine, and this job is probably a good intersection of the two, where I can get benefit from both.” 

While he has explored other fields throughout his career, he always finds his way back to healthcare – a sector he describes as unparalleled in its complexity and importance. “Healthcare is the sexiest industry there is. It’s ethics, it's morals, it’s life, it’s death, it’s the largest money. It’s what matters most to people. So, if you’ve worked in that sector and with those questions, it’s very hard to go back to any other industry.”

Though he sometimes misses surgery, he sees his current work as even more meaningful. “The impact I can have here is far greater than anything I could do in an operating room.”

The role of Swedish values in healthcare innovation

As a Swedish company expanding in the UK, Kry’s approach is shaped by its origins. The company’s core philosophy is that healthcare should be accessible to everyone, regardless of location or income.
“We don’t aim to improve healthcare for just a specific group of patients; we want to create a more efficient system as a whole,” Kalle explains. “If we don’t, we risk ending up in a situation where access to healthcare depends on what you can afford. That’s not the future we want to see.”

Despite the challenges of transitioning to a different system, Kry has been met with curiosity rather than resistance in the UK. “We want to be part of a successful NHS. Therefore, we seek to engage and contribute with our learnings from the Nordics and from what we've been doing now for 10 years, so that we can adopt the best parts and avoid previous mistakes. That's our approach.”

The future of healthcare: bridging the digital-physical divide

One of the key challenges ahead is bridging the gap between digital and traditional healthcare, creating a smooth experience for patients across generations.

“There’s a perception that younger people are more comfortable with digital healthcare, but we’re actually growing fastest among patients over 60,” says Kalle. “Just like with online banking, it takes time for adoption, but once people see the benefits, they embrace it.”

Ultimately, Kry’s vision is to make digital healthcare an integrated, natural part of the healthcare journey – not a separate, secondary option.

“Healthcare is different from other industries,” Kalle concludes. “When you’re unwell or worried about your health, nothing else matters. People look for companies they can trust, and I think Swedish companies, in general, are seen as reliable and value-driven. That’s something we bring to the UK, and that’s why we believe we can make a real difference here.”

As Kalle Conneryd Lundgren puts it: “Healthcare is the sexiest industry there is.” It's where life, death, ethics, and technology collide, offering endless opportunities to innovate and improve lives. Kry is leading the charge, proving that digital healthcare isn’t just the future – it’s already here, making patient care more efficient and accessible.

5 quick questions 

You’ve been a surgeon, a scientist, and now a CEO. What would younger Kalle be most surprised to learn about your journey?

Probably the surgeon part. I’ve always been very interested in theory, reading, and learning. But I discovered fairly late – well into my teens – that I actually enjoyed working with my hands much more than I expected. That was quite a surprise, especially since no one in my family had anything to do with healthcare.

When you’re not leading Kry, what’s your favourite way to relax or recharge?

I ride motorcycles. It’s a great way to clear my head because if you start thinking about anything else, it gets dangerous. 

If you could design a futuristic healthcare gadget that doesn’t exist yet, what would it be?

Something for the patient – a tool that helps them navigate and understand where they are in the healthcare system. One of the most frustrating things for patients is feeling lost, being sent back and forth without knowing why. A gadget that gives them clarity on their journey would be incredibly valuable.

You’ve worked all over the world - US, Taiwan, the UK, Germany, and France. Which place left the biggest impression on you and why?

It depends on where I was in life at the time. Taiwan was very different, but I mostly saw the inside of an operating theatre for 20 hours a day. In the UK, I did a fellowship at Birmingham Children’s Hospital when I was 26 or 27. That experience left a big impression - it was my first time truly living in a large, industrialised city as a young adult in another country. I learned a lot and grew up during that time.

If you could share one Swedish tradition or value with the world, what would it be?

The way we celebrate Swedish traditions – whether it’s Midsummer or other holidays – are very inclusive. Everyone in the same area is invited, and we all take part in the same way. There’s no segregation in how we celebrate, which makes it quite unique and beautiful.