Policy of Spahn fosters collaboration between media and medical software sectors

In 2019, the digital landscape of Germany's healthcare sector underwent a significant transformation. Two companies, CompuGroup Medical and T-Systems Health Industry, emerged as the sole providers of the necessary connectors, software solutions, and services for the Telematics Infrastructure (TI), a system mandated by the Digital Supply Act.

CompuGroup Medical, one of the largest providers of IT systems for medical practices, hospitals, and pharmacies, reported a market share of 50 percent in the expansion of the Telematics Infrastructure. This growth was reflected in the company's recurring revenue, which increased by 11 percent to 466.1 million euros in 2019.

The cost for the device, installation, and software was initially borne by practices, pharmacies, and hospitals, and then reimbursed by health insurance companies. This financial arrangement enabled the successful implementation of the TI across the healthcare system.

Frank Gotthardt, CEO of CompuGroup Medical, played a pivotal role in this digital transformation. However, his journey was not without challenges. He faced a harder time getting a foot in the door when Hermann Gröhe was still health minister. The situation improved when Jens Spahn took over as Minister of Health, making it easier for Gotthardt to secure meetings in the Bundestag or in the ministry for contacts or content-related coordination.

Gotthardt's influence extended beyond the realm of healthcare IT. He is also a billionaire media entrepreneur who financially backs Nius, a right-conservative online portal headed by Julian Reichelt, a former chief editor of Bild. The latest published balance sheet of Vius, the operator of Nius, shows a capital reserve of over 20 million euros as of December 31, 2023, in addition to the share capital.

Julian Reichelt, too, has had a tumultuous career. He lost his position as editor-in-chief of Bild due to a scandal involving power abuse against employees. In 2024, Nius was embroiled in another controversy, criticising the personnel decision for the second Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court, potentially responsible for reviewing an AfD ban.

The relationships among Gotthardt, Reichelt, and Spahn remain a topic of investigation. While there is evidence suggesting some indirect relationships of benefit or influence among them, no publicly documented close political collaboration or mutual exchange has been reported.

Despite the controversies, CompuGroup Medical continued to thrive. The company reported a loss for the year 2023 of over 13 million euros, a small setback in the grand scheme of its success. As the digital transformation of the healthcare sector continues, the company's role remains crucial, setting the stage for future developments in the industry.

Policy of Spahn fosters collaboration between media and medical software sectors