The Vincentian career computer scientist who launched Voter Analysis System (VALSY), an online voter registration verification tool ahead of last year’s general election, has launched Caridoctor, a platform to help people find healthcare providers across the Caribbean.
“My hope is that this new platform is embraced. It is completely free to use. The information that healthcare providers enter upon registration should already be public information,” Sharma Lee told iWitness News.
“This platform is just a way to harness that information and make it easier to connect the people to care.”
Lee told iWitness News that returning nationals and many visitors have grown accustomed to a certain level of service in healthcare.
“Most North American hospital systems and insurance companies offer the same service where one can search for a healthcare provider, read about their services and decide if to seek medical care with that provider.”
He noted that last year, four Caribbean countries implemented a free movement agreement, where their citizens can travel to any of the four to seek, among other things, healthcare.
Lee noted that when he launched Valsy.net leading up to the 2025 election in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he had noted that the Caribbean region is ripe for major digital advancement,” Lee said.
He told iWitness News that over 90% of visitors to valsy.net used a mobile device.
“… so we have the means to bring the region closer to us, thereby making us a lot more efficient,” Lee said, adding that efficiency makes it cheaper to get more done.
Lee said that healthcare providers who do not have a private practice can enter information about the public facility where they practice.
“At the end of the day, a person should be able to use the platform to find a healthcare provider, whether in their home country or elsewhere.”
Caridoctor is not a referral service and has no contractual relationship with any provider, Lee told iWitness News.
“Users of the platform are encouraged to read the terms of use and be informed. Notice also that I am saying ‘providers’ and not ‘medical doctors’, as we expect to see more than just medical doctors listing their practices.”
He said the platform will do what is within its capacity to verify the authenticity of all who sign up as providers.
“… But it is the responsibility of the public to do its own diligence when choosing a provider for care. The information provided is for informational purposes only.”
Lee was optimistic that the platform would be embraced, but told iWitness News:
“If in time only one person were to say to me that this platform helped him/her to find proper healthcare, the weeks spent designing and building would have been worth it.”
He said he hopes the initiative helps bridge the gap between information and healthcare, both of which interest him.
“We have a lot of ways in which we can be more efficient, not just in healthcare. The other side of this is medical tourism. Considering the challenges that are facing the Caribbean region, my hope is that its people embrace more of this sort of technology and innovation where possible, to help narrow the gaps that weaken regional cooperation.”
Lee thanked his good friends, who are medical professionals, who took time to offer valuable feedback throughout the design process.
Another first from this great mind, very useful and practical idea.. keep on going sir!!
Thank you