It is a discreet acquisition, with no platform merger and no physical integration of teams. Médoucine, which connects users with complementary care practitioners—better known as alternative medicine professionals such as sophrologists, naturopaths, and hypnotherapists—has joined the Cegedim Santé group. Founded in 2016 by Solange Arnaud, the company describes itself as the “Doctolib of alternative medicine.”
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. At the time of the acquisition, however, Médoucine was generating approximately €2 million in annual revenue and operating profitably on a standalone basis. The company will remain a separate legal entity, with Solange Arnaud retaining her role as CEO and the team remaining unchanged.
For Cegedim Santé, the publisher of Maiia, a medical appointment-booking platform reserved for healthcare professionals holding a French RPPS registration number, the acquisition opens up a new market. Médoucine lists practitioners who, by definition, have no presence on Maiia.
“The two platforms serve different audiences, and that will remain the case,” said Solange Arnaud, CEO of Médoucine.
What Cegedim is acquiring is a foothold in a sector it has not previously operated in, one that, according to figures cited by Solange Arnaud, represents around 80,000 practitioners in France.
A Business Model Built on Selection and Quality
Médoucine operates on a subscription model for practitioners, similar in structure to that of Doctolib. The offering combines visibility on the platform, appointment scheduling tools, and access to a professional peer community.
What Solange Arnaud highlights is the rigorous vetting process applied to listed practitioners, as well as the systematic collection of reviews after every consultation.
“For the past ten years, I have been driven by a simple conviction: complementary healthcare practices are now part of everyday life for many French people, and it is time to bring structure to this sector rather than leaving individuals to navigate it on their own,” she commented.
The platform has faced criticism in the past. Articles questioning the reliability of certain practitioner profiles have circulated, particularly regarding alleged fake naturopaths who, according to Solange Arnaud, had never actually completed consultations through the platform.
France’s consumer protection authority, the DGCCRF, conducted a full review of the company. Following the investigation, Médoucine was cleared of wrongdoing, with the only recommendation being stricter moderation regarding acupuncture-related content.
“We underwent a full inspection, and everything went well,” the founder recalled.
Building Bridges with the Medical Community
The stated objective of the acquisition goes beyond commercial growth. Médoucine intends to leverage Cegedim Santé’s strong relationships with healthcare professionals to create connections between conventional medicine and complementary care.
According to the company’s press release, 44% of practitioners within the Médoucine network already collaborate with physicians.
Solange Arnaud also noted that Maiia itself was created through the merger of several startups, giving Cegedim extensive experience in integrating entrepreneurial ventures.
“What we want to develop within the Cegedim Group are bridges that allow us to combine the best of both worlds and unlock synergies between highly complementary approaches,” said Solange Arnaud.
The next steps in this strategy will be announced at the Assises des Pratiques Complémentaires, scheduled for November 5, 2026, at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.
