French firm Doctolib acquires GP IT supplier Medicus

French HealthTech firm Doctolib has acquired UK electronic patient record supplier Medicus, with the aim of bringing improved technology, AI and services to GP practices across the UK.

Medicus became the first new core IT system for GPs to be approved in 25 years, when it was included in NHS England’s Tech Innovation Framework in June last year, making it the only competitor to Optum (previously known as Emis) and TPP.

The partnership plans to build on Medicus’s cloud-based GP system and understanding of NHS primary care, with Doctolib’s AI expertise and experience working with more than 40,000 GPs across Europe.

Emile Axelrad, founder and chief executive of Medicus, said: “This is an important step for Medicus, for the GP practices we support and for the future of primary care in the UK.

“By joining forces with Doctolib, we will strengthen the platform, accelerate innovation and give practices access to even greater product and service capabilities, while preserving the quality, proximity and understanding they already value from our team.

“Together, as a British team, we want to raise the standard for GP technology across the UK.”

Doctolib, which was founded in 2013, develops digital tools intended to reduce administrative workload for healthcare professionals, such as appointment scheduling, secure messaging, electronic health records, workflow automation, and AI tools for clinical and administrative support.

The firm plans to introduce these capabilities to UK general practice, focusing on areas such as documentation support, workflow automation and clinical assistance.

As part of its long-term commitment, Doctolib plans to invest more than £100 million to the UK, including hiring 150 people over the next four years and establishing a full R&D centre in London.

Stanislas Niox-Chateau, co-founder and chief executive of Doctolib, said: “Medicus has built an impressive product and team for UK general practices.

“By joining forces, we are becoming one team with one ambition: give GP practices in the UK the best technology, AI and services to simplify work, improve coordination and help professionals spend more time caring for patients. We are making a long-term commitment to the UK.

“We plan to invest more than £100 million in the UK over the coming years, hire 150 people in London, establish a dedicated R&D centre, and bring the full power of our expertise, including our AI clinical lab, to support innovation in NHS primary care.”

Medicus, which was founded in 2019, will continue to operate under its existing leadership, with its UK-based team remaining in place.

The combined business plans to invest in developing products for GP practices, primary care networks and integrated care boards across the UK.

GP practices and their teams will gain access to a platform designed to streamline tasks such as scheduling, documentation, care coordination and patient follow-up

The partnership says that the investment aligns with the three strategic priorities of the NHS 10 year health plan: moving care from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from reactive to preventive.