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Plattform Life Sciences conducted an interview with Philipp von Hammerstein, who works at Gimv Health & Care, a European investment company, and can assess the transformation of the German healthcare system through investor support. The investor survey shows that von Hammerstein definitely welcomes private equity investors, who are particularly welcome in the research funding of active ingredients. If patent protection for these active ingredients is lifted, investors will withdraw due to the lack of commercial success. Patent protection in the case of the Covid 19 vaccine has led investors to invest in development.

Hammerstein, as an expert at Gimv, initially views all venture capital investors in all areas of healthcare, including the medical device and healthcare sector, as having a positive outlook. However, he also admits that funders of this type often do not enjoy a good reputation. This has changed, however, because high quality standards are a must for investment, as is the willingness of patients to actively participate in therapeutic measures (compliance guidelines). Corporate governance, the principles for running a company in Germany, must also be right, explains von Hammerstein, who also advocates regulatory standards and ethical principles in healthcare, and not just „quick money.“

Nevertheless, there is a great deal of discussion about returns in relation to the work of investors in Germany. However, patient satisfaction is also paramount due to structures and medical quality. Remuneration and performance are therefore by no means contradictory. The conflict of aims, which is inaccurately spread that yield and quality contradict each other, is also non-existent, at least that is the opinion of the expert von Hammerstein. Private equity (PE) initiates change processes that would not be possible without large investments, but are necessary, he explains. However, the treatment of patients hardly improves as a result of change processes, but the added value for patients does. In larger structures, for example, specialists can be better established, so that tiered, integrated care through PE is also only feasible in larger structures; unlike in a fragmented market structure.
Making healthcare systems cost-effective and financially viable through consolidation also leads to high-quality, available medical care. As examples, von Hammerstein mentioned in the interview, for example, outpatient eye surgeries or the field of radiology, which brings utilization and speed through investors, because investments in large modern equipment by individual physicians would not be financially feasible at all.

Source: Going Public