GWQ and Skinuvita: collaboration for better skin therapy

How an idea became a successful partnership

A new contract between GWQ ServicePlus AG and the healthcare startup Skinuvita came into force on April 1, 2025. Behind this collaboration is a success story that began earlier and was driven forward decisively at the 5-HT event “Insuring Digital Health” in October 2024.

In conversation with Katharina Orchowski (Senior Expert Health Care at GWQ ServicePlus AG), Vanessa Pfaffenbauer (Team Lead Health Care at GWQ ServicePlus AG) and Jan Elsner (Founder & CEO of Skinuvita), it becomes clear how important networks, transparent communication and a shared vision were for success. But how exactly did this cooperation come about? What makes Skinuvita's solution so special? And what role did 5-HT play as an enabler of this innovation?

From the first contact to the pilot contract

The beginning: contacting Skinuvita

After first contacting Skinuvita in mid-2024, GWQ quickly carried out an internal review and subsequently offered the start-up a pilot contract. Skinuvita had already been included in a 5-HT report beforehand.

The decisive meeting: “Insuring Digital Health” in October 2024

GWQ and Skinuvita met again in person at the 5-HT event “Insuring Digital Health” in Mannheim - and took the opportunity to jointly report on the project to the health insurers in attendance.

Jan Elsner at the 5-HT event Insuring Digital Health in Mannheim in October 2024

“We used the event as a vehicle to publicize our plans with Skinuvita and get the first health insurers on board,” says Orchowski. For Jan Elsner, the event was a game changer: "At other conferences, you might have nine start-ups and one health insurance company - here the ratio was balanced. We were really able to have a conversation at eye level."

Vanessa Pfaffenbauer (left) and Katharina Orchowski (right) from GWQ at speed dating during the Insuring Digital Health event in October 2024

From idea to contract: agility and trust

Everything happened quickly immediately before and after the event:

GWQ offered Skinuvita a pilot contract.
A framework agreement was developed together, which also included the subsequent partner health insurance companies from the outset.
Five health insurance companies joined before the contract started - more than originally expected. The contract is of course open to other health insurance companies.

"We were totally agile and dynamic. Skinuvita was always open to feedback and responded quickly," emphasizes Orchowski. At GWQ, the process was also a team effort, involving not only the Healthcare team but also Legal, Data Operations, Data Protection Officers and Marketing. “Involving the health insurance funds in the process so early on, so that they can still help shape it based on a draft contract, was a good learning experience that we want to continue,” says Orchowski.

Elsner adds: "GWQ provided us with all-round professional support. The dynamic was totally refreshing - especially after we had been confronted with long waiting times for medical device approval in the previous months."

Why Skinuvita? The solution to a real gap in care

The problem: light therapy is effective but difficult to access

Patients with chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis or neurodermatitis benefit from phototherapy (UV light treatment). But access is difficult:

Multiple visits to the practice per week over two to three months.
Time-consuming travel and waiting times.
Many sufferers resort to medication, which often has severe side effects.

The Skinuvita solution: therapy device for at home with medical supervision

Skinuvita makes light therapy flexible and safe:

The device comes to your home - no visits to the practice necessary.
Physician control via app - the dose is automatically adjusted, incorrect applications are ruled out.
Telemedical support - dermatologists monitor progress.

"There are similar solutions in the Netherlands, but without medical supervision and support - burns often occur there. Our telemedicine system, on the other hand, guides you safely and effectively through the treatment," explains Elsner.

The added value for insured persons and health insurers

Patients regain quality of life.
Flexible in everyday life: treatment is not dependent on practice opening hours - over 90% of sessions take place in the evening or at the weekend.
No long journeys: therapy takes place in the comfort of your own home - there is no need for travel times or waiting rooms.
Phototherapy instead of systemic therapy: patients have access to effective light therapy - a direct switch to systemic therapy or biologics is often avoided.
Safe & medically supervised: Thanks to telemonitoring and automatic dose transfer, the application is safe and closely monitored at all times.
Doctors can better control treatment success.

Skinuvita's dermalight 500R

The role of 5-HT: From initial contact to successful implementation

5-HT acted as a catalyst in this partnership:

Awareness in the SHI sector: Through 5-HT network, Skinuvita was known to health insurance employees.
“Insuring Digital Health” 2024: Deepening discussions and networking with health insurers.
Mediation and support: 5-HT created the platform for exchange.

“Without 5-HT, we wouldn't have been able to go down this path so quickly,” summarizes Elsner. Orchowski adds: “Events like this are essential for driving innovation forward.”

Outlook: What's next?

Practical implementation begins with the start of the contract on April 1, 2025:

160 dermatologists have already pre-registered.
Other health insurance companies are showing interest - the number of partners could still grow.
Skinuvita is planning to expand the team and further develop the technology.

“Our goal is for even more people to benefit from this solution,” says Elsner. Orchowski adds: “This is just the beginning - we are looking forward to our joint success story.”

Conclusion: a win-win-win situation

The collaboration between GWQ and Skinuvita shows how digital healthcare innovations can improve care - if everyone involved pulls together. Thanks to transparent communication, agile processes and support from 5-HT, a solution was created that benefits patients, doctors and health insurance companies alike.

“We learned a lot - and it was simply fun,” Katharina Orchowski sums it up. Jan Elsner agrees: "This is just the starting signal. Now we're really getting started."

________________________________________

More information:

Success Story: GWQ and Skinuvita launch innovative collaboration for better skin therapy