"We are only on the first step of the staircase"

What is really happening in the digital transformation of healthcare? This question is at the heart of a recent episode of the podcast “Mehr Einsatz wagen”, in which host Professor Tobias Gantner speaks with Dr Meinrad Lugan, long‑standing Member of the Management Board of B. Braun SE and former Chairman of the Board of BVMed.

In their discussion, the two medtech experts address a topic that will also feature prominently at MedtecLIVE: how digital technologies are reshaping healthcare—and, consequently, how the requirements placed on medical technology manufacturers and their suppliers are changing.

Professor Gantner and Dr Lugan will also meet in person at MedtecLIVE, taking place from 5 to 7 May in Stuttgart, for a direct exchange on the challenges and opportunities facing medical technology in the years ahead. Following his keynote “Future X-Ray Vision:What Medtech Suppliers and Manufacturers Will Need to Master Tomorrow”, Professor Gantner will continue the discussion with Dr Meinrad Lugan and other experts.

The podcast focuses on the evolving requirements within healthcare driven by digital innovation.

Digital transformation: much talk, little clarity?

It quickly becomes apparent in the conversation that digital transformation in medical technology is less advanced than many public debates would suggest. Despite artificial intelligence, sensor technologies and networked systems, Dr Lugan soberly describes the current status as an early phase—figuratively speaking, the first step of a much longer staircase.

This perspective puts widespread expectations into context. In medical technology, digitalisation does not follow a master plan; rather, it emerges where functional problems are addressed incrementally.

Innovation often starts outside companies

A central theme of the podcast is the observation that some of the most impactful digital innovations did not originate within traditional industrial development structures. The example of diabetes care illustrates this shift particularly clearly.

What is now established as closed-loop systems began as practical combinations of individual technologies developed by patients themselves. Only after these approaches had proven effective did industrial productisation and regulatory integration follow.

When information becomes ubiquitous, medical practice changes

Another focus of the discussion is the role of physicians in a digital environment. Well-informed patients, algorithmic assessments and continuous data collection are reshaping expectations and interactions.

Dr Lugan does not interpret this development as a loss of professional authority, but rather as a shift in areas of competence. While readily accessible knowledge is becoming less important, application, interpretation and responsibility are gaining significance.

Telemedicine is not just video conferencing

Rather than stopping at experiences shaped by the pandemic, the conversation broadens the perspective on telemedicine considerably. The focus is on structural effects: new distributions of tasks, supportive algorithms and software-based diagnostics.

The podcast thus frames telemedicine as a system issue, not merely a communication format. For medical technology companies, this means developing technologies that function beyond isolated use cases and integrate multiple professional groups.

Medical technology is moving closer to the patient

A recurring idea throughout the discussion is the increasing physical proximity of medical technology applications. Sensors, implantable systems and mobile devices enable continuous data collection outside traditional treatment settings.

The podcast cites examples from cardiology, neuromodulation and hypertension therapy – fields in which medical technology is no longer isolated, but operates as an interplay of hardware, software and data analytics.

Technical feasibility requires medical restraint

The conversation does not shy away from critical aspects. Particularly in the context of self-tracking and longevity, Dr Lugan emphasises the responsibility of the industry: not every measurement leads to meaningful action.

Information without therapeutic or preventive consequences can create uncertainty – a consideration that must be carefully addressed, especially in digital products. For medical technology, this balance is crucial, as it directly affects trust, acceptance and long-term use.

Data access as a bottleneck for innovation

Towards the end of the podcast, the discussion widens to structural conditions. Restricted access to clinical data represents a major obstacle, particularly for small and medium-sized companies – especially when developing data-driven products.

At the same time, Dr Lugan highlights the importance of network effects: systems learn more quickly when they achieve broad adoption at an early stage. This creates a field of tension that characterises European medical technology.

The podcast underscores the need for a central dialogue platform for exchange within the medtech industry. Against this backdrop, MedtecLIVE gains importance as a space for user-centred, open and integrable approaches in medical technology, where usability, system compatibility and cooperation are key quality and success factors. The focus is not on finished end products, but on the current state of development of solutions, technologies and systems.

Experience the discussion live

Listen to Professor Tobias Gantner and Dr Meinrad Lugan at MedtecLIVE and secure your ticket today! Readers of the MedtecLIVE Industry Report, which provides in-depth insights into current trends in medical technology, can redeem e-codes for ticket registration. (registration required)

👉 Access the podcast “Mehr Einsatz wagen” on YouTube here. (German)