Moner Dactar

Like many other Low and Middle Income Countries (LIMC) about 90% people in Bangladesh are deprived of mental health service due to wide spread stigma related to mental health, lack of access to mental health care and failure to meet the healthcare cost.  To solve this long standing problem, we developed an innovative digital platform to connect mental health professionals with the clients. Anyone can access the platform from their mobile or computers and can directly consult with experts by audio, video or text. Moreover, it also provide the tips and messages for promoting health and well-being. By providing the access to mental health care  we want reduce the most common cause of disability "Depression", leading cause of death for youth "Suicide" and another key concern of present society "Addiction"with other mental disorders that significantly hampers our economic growth and unemployment. We also aim to promote social cohesion. 

About 90% people in Bangladesh is deprived of Mental health service. However, Suicide is the leading cause of death for 15 to 19 year old girl in the country (Salam 2017). Moreover, There are only 200 psychiatrist and about 100 clinical psychologist working in the country and 90% of the mental health profesionals are residing in the capital city Dhaka (Soron 2016). so people living in the remote area has no access to mental health service. However, the mental health problem is increasing in the country from the childhood to the old age group.  In 2015, mental and substance abuse disorders accounted for 6% of years of life lost and years lost due to disability, worldwide. Depression is the leading cause of disability globally.
 In Bangladesh, more than 16% adult suffering from Mental Disrorders (WHO 2007).  over 6 million people experience depressive disorders and almost 7 million people have anxiety disorders. It is estimated that more than 10 000 people are dying by suicide in the country. Among students aged 13-17 in Bangladesh, 4% of boys and 6% of girls consider attempting suicide. About 1% people suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorders.

We intend to serve the people suffering from mental disorder from any age. We hope to serve people from all over the country particularly  those are living in rural and remote part of the country. Our service also target to provide service for person with NeuroDevelopmental Disorders including Autism and ADHD. On the other end we also want to ensure care for the older age group who are suffering from Dementia and other Nero-cognitive problem. Moner Dactar also serves youth suffering from different mental disorders including drug addiction, violent behavior including self harm and suicide . We have conducted series of meeting with people of different age groups and considered their need how the platform can be made most user centered. One of key things our clients demanded was easy access, privacy and assurance of confidentiality of their data. We ensured them discussing with our team and professionals. We also arranged FGD with mental health professionals at NIMH and DU to understand the need and comfort of the professionals. Based on the input of the clients and professionals at different stage of development we built the system. We continued scientific searching to find out the need of our clinets

Our product MonerDaktar is an innovative digital platform to connect mental health professionals with clients. The solution uses modern information and communication technologies to connect mental health professional with the people suffering from mental disorder and disabilities.  The solution to provides mental health psychotheray, online clinical assessment, and treatment for mental disorders for people living in remote and urban area. We use all means of communication technologies currently available to the market. We developed both mobile and web-based application to build the MonerDaktar mental health services. Moreover, the application is planning to utilize metal health data and machine learning technique to classify and advocacy/recommendation systems for both doctors and patients  

The solution comprises open registration facilities for both psychiatrist and patient. The MonerDaktar publishes a list of registered psychiatrists and their bios on the website and mobile-based application. The patient may register any time from mobile/computer devices, choose a  psychiatrist, and make an appointment. At the time of appointment, the patient or doctor can connect either through video, voice, and text chat or the mix of them from computer or mobile. The solution alerts the patient and doctor a few minutes before the appointment time. The psychiatrist gives treatment online and prescribes medicine if needed. The patient may download the prescription and take a print out for the drug. The solution system creates a database and keeps patient treatment records for future treatment.  The patient database helps both doctor and patient for next consultancy and treatment. Besides, the solution publishes articles and maintain blogs for metal patient and doctors for open consultancy. The solution techniques provide freedom to the mental health doctors for their rate (fees) and schedule and publish to the online MonerDaktar website. Patients are free to choose any doctor and time, according to the published information. However, before the appointment, the patient pays the fees online. The solution transfers the money (price) to the doctor after the service charge immediately after the consultation.                

MonerDakter is undoubtedly an innovative technology-based mental health solution for people, especially living in a remote area. Best of our knowledge, few services are available which only provide general health assistance through voice (phone) communication. On the other hand, the proposed MonerDakter creates a unique and robust virtual platform for the patients and doctor for a mental health consultation. A patient can make an online appointment to the psychiatrist practically from anywhere of the world. The solution keeps the history of a patient metal health condition and treatment, which will undoubtedly help doctors to treat the patient for the next time.

Moreover, the solution provides online prescription services for the patient. As nearly 90% of the population of Bangladesh is out of mental health services; therefore, this solution creates a new business solution for the mental health sector. The solution generates new employment in the mental health sector for the psychiatrist community.  
Furthermore, the collected data will create a facility to develop analytical platform for mental health and recommendation systems using machine learning techniques. The recommendation system and collected intellect enhance the platforms and support to develop more sensitive mental health-oriented services.  

We aim to serve 1000 people by the end of this year.

With in the next one year we want to serve 100000 people.

Within the next 5 year we want to serve 10-20 million people

Full type employee- 5: including Psychiatrist, Computer Scientists and Engineer, Programmer

 Part-time Employee 20: Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Programmers

In our team, we have professor of Computer Science from Dhaka University with more than 20 years experience in software development and secured user centered design. We also have leading e health expert Psychiatrist leading different technology based mental health projects. 

Our key customers are people suffering from any sort of mental illness or anyone who is not getting enough medical attention. Also people living in remote areas of Bangladesh unable to get doctor's appointment. 

In order to create a path to financial sustainability, we plan to follow the Organizational Support Model where we will provide services general public.

We believe Tiger Challenge can help us proceed with our business plans by providing the financial support to grow gradually. Our business requires a proper infrastructure to develop and more importantly we need a plan to reduce the cost for development. Tiger Challenge can guide and help us face the challenges that are ahead.  

We don't have any other organizations in mind that could perhaps help us accelerate.