The health Business of Swisscom and Swiss Post have an ailing

Two state-owned enterprises have sensed the great business in the health sector. The Post and Swisscom see it as a way to compensate for their partial breakaway, in the end, the group's core business. They fight each other and invest millions. However, to be reported instead of success in the 70 billion Swiss francs for the health of the market, had to accept the two companies last setbacks.

Swisscom and the Post want to make money from patient data. They position themselves with different it platforms for the electronic patient dossier (EPD). Thus, patients digital to can on your medical records access. Diagnoses and therapies are to be electronically stored. Patients can enter their data for Doctors and hospitals.

Swisscom loses lucrative additional business

In the realization of a Switzerland-wide solution however, there are long delays. Actually, the systems were supposed to be as early as 2018 ready, now there is talk of 2020. Swisscom and the Post struggling with problems and are lagging behind in the schedule. Swisscom provides the technical platform for Axsana, from the Canton of Zurich, and various associations in the health care Corporation founded, which organizes the construction and operation of electronic patient dossiers. In the meantime, various cantons have joined Axsana. In addition to Zurich, Bern and Zug. Also in hospitals from other Swiss-German cantons are customers. The power Axsana one of the most important Player in the introduction of the Patient files.

But the state companies have presented the business in the health sector seem to be easier. "The development of electronic patient dossiers is much more complex than I thought. All underestimated – the large technology provider, Swisscom, the Post," says Axsana, managing Director of the Samuel Eglin. In Axsana you has responded well and the cooperation with Swisscom is limited. Originally it was planned that Swisscom is not allowed to sell on the Axsana platform in addition to the patient's dossier exclusive of additional services. Were provided, for example, Transfers of patients to therapy or registrations to studies. These Services should be for Swisscom, the actual Money maker in the project, EPD and the development costs recouped. But nothing will come of it. It had not shown that such offers to cover the needs of "satisfactory and lead to a long development period," writes Axsana in a Information to customers.

Obviously, the Swisscom progressing with the development much too slow. The exclusive addition to the business takes away Axsana the Swisscom therefore, and to open it also for other technology providers. The Patient record threatens for the Telecom provider to be in the loss of business. "The Swisscom will not be able to refinance their development costs for the Patient record fully," says Axsana-chief of Eglin.

cantons require cooperation of the state farms

Also at the Post office, it runs not around. For years, the yellow giant has invested in its own platform for the electronic patient dossier in vain. In September, the Post has abandoned its own solution. Instead, she now relies on the technology of the German company Siemens.

The Post is in the patient dossier, the great opponent of Swisscom. It is especially in the West of the Swiss cantons, but also in Aargau, Glarus and Graubünden is active. Ex-Post-Boss Susanne Ruoff had highlighted the health market has always been as important a driver of innovation. After the departure Ruoffs Post-President Urs Schwaller, the health business and other projects on the bench. You have to ask yourself whether you are investing to continue in expensive projects, the modest revenues, Schwaller. Neither the Post nor the Swisscom will give profit or revenue figures to your activities in the health sector.

Swisscom tried for years, in the healthcare system – without visible success. "Swisscom Health, within the group of very little importance. The Management hardly speaks about it", said Andreas Mueller, an Analyst at Zürcher Kantonalbank.

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Meanwhile, the cantons, to support the digitisation of patient records with taxpayers ' money to urge a merger of the activities of Swiss Post and Swisscom. Zurich's health Director Thomas Heiniger maintains the competition between the state enterprises makes sense. "Even the big technology provider Swisscom and Swiss Post have enormous difficulties in the development of an EPD solution. A merger would combine the skills and the problems shrink."

Different cantons, according to Heiniger talks about a joint solution. Including representatives from Geneva and the Vaud. "At the beginning of 2019, the various cantons will deepen the discussions on the EPD. A consensus on a single solution," says the Director of Health. Michael Jordi, General Secretary of the health Director's conference, says: "We want the patient dossier in accordance with schedule and works. A merger of the activities of Swisscom and the Swiss Post could help."

Swisscom shows this idea. The development of their own platform is at an advanced stage. "That would put together both platforms now, would be rendered impossible the timely launch," says a spokesman. The Post responds to the question of a possible merger is less dismissive: "Should there be signs of this, would inform the Post office and Swisscom it together."

The time for a decision is pressing. According to a recent study, Switzerland is beaten off, the digitization of health care. Countries such as Spain, Israel and Portugal are now much more advanced.

(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 30.12.2018, 15:51 PM