HealthControl Niš d.o.o.

HealthControl: It all started in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. During his own therapy sessions to treat migraine headaches, Professor Ivan Pavlović began to notice something that most patients never see. Behind the sealed glass of the chamber, doctors and nurses were stretched thin, constantly monitoring every patient’s vital signs. For those in critical condition, that meant round-the-clock attention. And for patients, it often meant a passive, sometimes uncomfortable experience that many didn’t complete. Ivan realized the problem wasn’t with the treatment itself. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is well-established in medicine and can help heal wounds, infections, and neurological conditions. The problem was in how it was delivered. Instead of walking away, he decided to fix it.Together with his wife, Professor Dragana Pavlović, and a small team of university researchers and engineers, he founded HealthControl, a startup dedicated to modernizing HBOT with smarter tools and better patient experience. The team quickly identified the main issues limiting the therapy’s potential. HealthControl’s goal is to make adherence the norm, not the exception. When patients can see measurable progress and doctors can explain results backed by live data (all that with the smart medical device HealthControl develops), everyone is more motivated to continue. HealthControl’s technology isn’t just a concept. The team has already developed and tested an advanced prototype, reaching TRL6, meaning it has been validated in both laboratory settings and real clinical environments. They partnered with a leading hyperbaric clinic in Serbia to refine and test the device.

In 2024, HealthControl completed Serbia’s SmartStart program organized by the Innovation Fund, where they gained valuable exposure and early recognition. A year later, the company’s CMO, Professor Dragana Pavlović, was invited to speak at the 67th International Fair of Technics and Technical Achievements, one of the country’s largest innovation events. Her presentation was selected as one of the top four startup showcases at the fair. The Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the Science and Technology Park of Niš supported HealthControl’s participation in Web Summit Lisbon 2025.

At the same time, the team is developing XR-based educational apps. The idea is simple: when people understand the process, they’re more likely to complete it.

Also, based on Dragana's expertise in medicinal plants and aromaterapy, HealhtControl innovative part of the company started production of innovative dermocosmetic products. By now, 3 products reached the market through pharmacies: ColicEc (cream for aromatherapeutic massage), DryEx (gel for vaginal dryness) and ItchEx (lipogel for skin with eczema, psoriasys and severe dehydratation). Other innovative products are in progress. (www.hcinnovative.com)

The people behind the vision

What makes HealthControl different isn’t just its technology. It’s the people driving it.

Ivan and Dragana met back in high school, studied in different cities, and later found themselves working at the same university. They got married and eventually turned their shared love for science into a mission to make healthcare better. Together, they bring decades of research experience across medicine, mechanics, and education.

They’re joined by Professor Nikola Vitković, head of IT systems at the University of Niš Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and Professor Milena Rajić, who supports the XR development work. Between them, the team combines more than 80 years of academic expertise — and just as much curiosity.

When asked what drives them, Dragana smiles. “We want to make treatments feel safe, intelligent, and human,” she says. “It’s what medicine should be.”

But HealthControl’s ambitions reach beyond technology. Their work aligns with the European Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals by reducing oxygen waste, cutting down on single-use materials, and improving energy efficiency. In their view, smarter healthcare should also mean more sustainable healthcare.

HealthControl is proof that real innovation starts with empathy — seeing a problem from the inside and refusing to accept it as normal.