Lumeca is a virtual health care company that provides access to locally licensed physicians through audio and video communications for Saskatchewan residents.
The service was first introduced in Saskatchewan in 2019, but has been discontinued as of December 2021.
The doctor’s app has helped many Saskatchewans access health care remotely without leaving their home, which was a convenience for many.
“We’ve used the Lumeca app for the last two years…it’s very helpful,” said Laura Strem, who lives on a farm about an hour from Regina.
“When you have young children, you don’t want to carry them and drive to the closest center to a doctor’s office.”
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Strem said the Lumeca app was a great convenience for his family and others living remotely. The longest he had to wait to talk to a doctor was an hour and he didn’t have to leave his house.
When she heard that the virtual clinic in Lumeca was closed, she was disappointed because she said that this application is a great asset for the province.
“I was hoping it would be something that would continue,” he said. “We’ve had enough trouble with the health care system over the last three years trying to balance COVID and losing one more thing is really disappointing.”
On the Lumeca website, where people book their appointments online to see a doctor, an automated message appears that says, “Sorry, Lumeca’s virtual walk-in clinic is closed… We’re sorry to inform you of the closure of the same day access from Lumeca”. clinic starting December 17, 2021.”
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health sent out a statement regarding the closure, stating that Lumeca is a private company providing virtual healthcare services in Saskatchewan.
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“The Ministry and SHA are not in a position to speculate on the business decisions of a private company, specifically the considerations involved in the decision to discontinue services,” according to the statement.
It’s not known if the Lumeca app will return this year or why the service was discontinued in Saskatchewan.
Global Regina contacted Lumeca but they declined to comment.
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