(04/2021) In mid-February it was that time again - albeit in digital form. The 22nd Munich Clinic Seminar came up with a wide range of lectures that shed light on the current situation of clinics and purchasing groups. A central topic was the degree of digitization, the clinics and purchasing groups more or less closely interlinked. It became clear that there is still a wide gap between desire and reality. Everyone wants more “digital”, but the “analog” stumbling blocks make life difficult for everyone.
Platform strategies with a view to alignment and meaningfulness were the focus of Dr. Oliver Gründel, Managing Director of AGKAMED based in Cologne. The scene in Germany has generally calmed down and cleaned up.
The hour of the platforms
There are currently only two "serious e-procurement partners" left in the market: GHX Europe (Medical Columbus concluded a contract to sell a substantial part of its assets with GHX) and HBS Pagero (Pagero took over HBS Health Business Solutions GmbH) . According to Gründel, HBS Pagero has meanwhile developed into the dominant provider, GHX plays a lesser role, "only a few customers are still connected" here.
What defines platform quality
The others show how digital platform strategies work, says Dr. Gründel, with reference to Amazon, Zalando & Co. “They know how digitally works well and easily.” The standard business is 15 years ahead of the healthcare sector. From his point of view, valid master data (articles, prices, conditions, special agreements), standardized processes (order, shipment information, delivery note, electronic invoice), process support and "decision support" are essential for the healthcare sector. At the last point, AGKAMED is just about to be able to offer its member houses additional support with a view to decision support and the use of AI-based systems. Especially with DRG (Diagnosis Related Groups) -related purchasing, "process integrity is a decisive factor".
The others don't sleep
According to Dr. Gründel currently integrative platforms that are superior to the classic models from GHX or HBS Pagero. Amazon in particular has an eye on the healthcare sector and is perfect in terms of logistics and platform management. And he warns: “Purchasing groups are already part of Amazon's portfolio today. That can make shopping groups superfluous. "Something is growing here that" should still be controlled "as long as it is still possible.
AGKAMED's platform strategy
AGKAMED is currently pursuing the approach of bringing all data, processes and actors together in one system. The so-called IP4 platform is intended to connect all member institutions (MaWi) and contract suppliers (ERP systems) on this platform. MEDIIO GmbH is the development partner. A corresponding pilot project is currently running with B. Braun Germany. Dr. Gründel's conclusion: The hospital purchasing groups must do their role as mediators between industry and the hospital market better than before. You need to drive the topic of "digital platform strategy" now.
Digital worlds - still a long way to go
“The health economy continues to live in the digital valley of tears”. The motto of the lecture by Olaf Berse, CEO of Clinicpartner eG, left no doubt in which direction his argumentative journey would aim. The Clinicpartner shareholders (65 hospital owners) set the course for digital consolidation via a platform in 2017; The goal is to have 80 percent of the facilities connected by the end of 2021. In 2020, 69 hospitals and 49 suppliers, who represent 75 percent of the negotiation turnover, were connected to the platform
