Doctolib Takes On Britain's GP Software Duopoly

Doctolib buys Medicus Health and pledges more than £100mn to challenge a UK GP software market dominated by two suppliers.

15 Sep 2026

Britain's market for GP software has been remarkably difficult to enter. Two suppliers, Optum and TPP, have controlled a combined 99% share since at least 2024 and dominated the sector for more than two decades. Doctolib's acquisition of London-based Medicus Health on 6 May 2026 gives the French healthtech company a foothold in that concentrated market.

Medicus is the smaller challenger, operating in about 100 of England's roughly 6,500 GP practices. Yet it carries a notable credential: in June 2025, NHS England included the company in its Tech Innovation Framework, making Medicus the first new core GP IT system approved in 25 years. Its platform connects with national services including electronic prescriptions, NHS referrals and the NHS App.

Doctolib plans to invest more than £100mn in the UK over the coming years. The commitment includes hiring 150 employees and opening a dedicated research and development centre in London focused on primary care. Doctolib already supports more than 40,000 GPs and 500,000 health professionals across Europe.

Together, the companies intend to add artificial-intelligence tools for scheduling, clinical documentation, workflow automation, care coordination and patient follow-up. Founder and CEO Emile Axelrad will continue to lead Medicus. He said: "Together, as a British team, we want to raise the standard for GP technology across the UK."

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Doctolib previously entered Italy in 2021 through its purchase of Dottori.it, an expansion that industry analysis from Iatrox described as a possible model for moving across borders. In Britain, however, the test will be whether investment and a newly approved system can loosen a market that has resisted fresh competition for years.