The preventative healthcare technology company co-founded by Hjalmar Nilsonne and Daniel Ek (founder of Spotify and Prima Materia), Neko Health, announced this week the opening of its Health Centre in Marylebone, 9 St Vincent St, London.
The Neko Body Scan is a forward-looking preventive health check. The body scan (priced at €349) maps millions of health data points on your body—both inside and out—in just a few minutes. It examines moles across the body, symptoms of metabolic syndrome, and risk factors for stroke and heart attack, along with blood fat and blood sugar levels to assess the risk of pre-diabetes. Additionally, it checks for skin cancer and blood abnormalities.
Launched last year in Stockholm, Sweden, Neko Health filled all available slots in less than two hours from its opening. Enthusiasm for its preventive body scan remains high, with over 22,000 people currently on the waiting list, and the majority (80%) of its members choosing to make this part of their annual health routine.
This comprehensive health check eliminates days of waiting by delivering instant results in under an hour, a process that would otherwise take weeks or months. After the scan, each member receives a personalised and unhurried consultation with one of Neko Health’s doctors, who will review the results personally and answer any questions. All medical diagnoses and decisions are always made by the doctor. If any follow-up treatment is required, the doctor will discuss it during the consultation or recommend the next steps after the scan.
Early detection of health issues remains crucial, yet primary care systems often lack the time and resources to focus on prevention. This can lead to missed opportunities for early intervention, resulting in personal suffering as well as a significant financial burden due to late-stage treatments.
“In the UK, an MOT is required for your car. However, when it comes to your body, you often need to ‘break down’ before seeing a doctor,” says Hjalmar Nilsonne, co-founder of Neko Health. “Our healthcare systems were designed decades ago and haven’t kept up with rising costs or demand—a trend we collectively need to reverse. To reduce healthcare costs, we need to shift towards proactive, preventive care.”
In its first year of operation in 2023, the company scanned 2,707 people. Of these, 78.5% had no health issues, and Neko Health helped them establish a baseline and learn how to optimise and maintain good health. However, 14.1% required medical treatment. Additionally, 1% received potentially life-saving treatment for severe conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, severe metabolic diseases, and skin cancer. None of these individuals were aware of their condition prior to their visit. The age range for those receiving life-saving treatment was 33 to 79 years old. Notably, 26% of these individuals were under 50 years old.
Neko Body Scan:
The Neko Body Scan takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and the experience is always followed by a consultation with a doctor, where each individual receives all results and recommendations instantly.
The scanner uses over 70 sensors to collect 50 million data points in minutes.
The technology is designed to assist doctors in early detection of diseases, including skin conditions, skin cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other metabolic syndromes.
Members have access to a summary of their health data in an app, where they can also track their results.
Currently, the Neko Body Scan experience is available in Stockholm and London, with more Health Centres planned to open across Europe.
