France’s competition authority has penalized telehealth giant Doctolib with a €4.6 million fine, alleging the company abused its dominant position in the burgeoning online medical appointment booking and telehealth sectors. This decision highlights growing scrutiny of large tech platforms operating within healthcare and reinforces the importance of fair competition, particularly as telehealth continues to reshape how patients access medical services.
Doctolib’s Rise and Market Position
Doctolib has become a major player in the European tech landscape, boasting annual revenues of €348 million and extending its operations across France, Italy, and Germany. The company’s success is largely due to its two core digital services: Doctolib Patient, which allows patients to easily book medical appointments, and Doctolib Téléconsultation, facilitating direct online consultations with medical professionals.
The Core of the Anti-Competitive Concerns
The French Autorité de la Concurrence found that Doctolib intentionally implemented practices designed to stifle competition. Specifically, the authority’s investigation focused on Doctolib’s insistence on exclusivity clauses and its policy preventing healthcare professionals from subscribing to its Patient and Téléconsultation services independently. This bundling effectively eliminated potential competition within these critical telehealth segments.
“Numerous internal documents corroborate that Doctolib wanted to impose exclusivity on healthcare professionals, with management declaring that Doctolib should become ‘an essential, strategic interface between doctor and patient, in order to lock in both parties,’” the Autorité said.
This strategic move aimed to create a locked-in ecosystem where both patients and doctors were heavily reliant on Doctolib’s platform.
Acquisition of a Key Competitor
Further raising concerns was Doctolib’s 2018 acquisition of MonDocteur, a significant competitor in the early stages of the telehealth market. The timing of this acquisition, while the market was still developing, gave Doctolib an outsized advantage, preventing the emergence of alternative solutions for patients and healthcare providers. This action limited consumer choice and potentially hindered innovation.
The Trigger: A Competitor’s Complaint
The investigation, which resulted in the substantial fine, was initiated by a 2019 complaint filed by Cegedim Santé, another French company competing in the telehealth software market. This complaint prompted a formal investigation by the Autorité de la Concurrence.
Doctolib’s Response: Planned Appeal
Doctolib has strongly denied the accusations and has announced its intention to appeal the decision. The company argues that it isn’s in a “dominant position” within the French market, emphasizing that it is a relatively new player compared to some European competitors. Doctolib highlights its usage by 30% of French healthcare professionals, a significant increase from 10% in 2019, demonstrating its widespread adoption but not necessarily a monopolistic hold.
“Despite our widespread use by the public, Doctolib is a recent player in providing software for healthcare professionals,” the company said.
The company projects confidence in overturning the ruling following a thorough review of the case.
This case underscores the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding digital health platforms and the importance of ensuring a competitive marketplace. The outcome of Doctolib’s appeal will likely shape the future of telehealth regulation in France and potentially across Europe.
