Microsoft, the US-based company that controls Microsoft’s UK business operations is being accused of a ‘takeover of stealth’ of NHS. It was accused of stealing millions from UK companies by giving Remote-Meeting Software to the Health Service.

  • British business secretary investigates Microsoft claims
  • Kwasi Kwarteng wants to know if the firm was able “takeover by stealth”.
  • Microsoft donated its Teams program for the NHS during the pandemic. 










Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is investigating claims that the US tech giant Microsoft has elbowed British firms out of millions of pounds of NHS contracts by giving remote-meeting software to the Health Service.

Officials in Mr Kwarteng’s Business Department are looking at claims that what was seen as a generous offer during the pandemic – providing Teams software free to the NHS – has led to a ‘takeover by stealth’ of its IT systems.

The software package, which is used by up to 1.2 million NHS staff, is estimated by industry sources to have saved the Health Service millions of pounds, but smaller businesses are understood to have told Mr Kwarteng’s officials that it was an ‘exercise in control’ by Microsoft to avoid open competition.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is investigating claims that the US tech giant Microsoft has elbowed British firms out of millions of pounds of NHS contracts by giving remote-meeting software to the Health Service

Kwasi Kwarteng (Business Secretary) is investigating allegations that Microsoft has stolen millions from British businesses by giving Remote-Meeting Software to the Health Service.

Microsoft is already being investigated by the competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority, over its plan to acquire Nuance, a £12 billion voice recognition platform which is widely used in the NHS.

A source said: ‘This looks like “NHSwashing” to rival companies – gaining lucrative leverage over health infrastructure under the guise of charity.’

The ‘productivity app’ Slack has filed a formal complaint with the EU Commission, claiming that Microsoft is pushing its Teams software to an uncompetitive degree, squeezing out rivals and monopolising the market.

Mr Kwarteng¿s Business Department are looking at claims that Microsoft's offer during the pandemic ¿ providing Teams software free to the NHS ¿ has led to a ¿takeover by stealth¿ of its IT systems

Mr Kwarteng’s Business Department are looking at claims that Microsoft’s offer during the pandemic – providing Teams software free to the NHS – has led to a ‘takeover by stealth’ of its IT systems

The source added: ‘Microsoft may have claimed to save the NHS millions of staff hours – but the price will be much higher later on down the line.

‘Their licence renewals will not only be incredibly expensive. But it won’t be easy to find a cheaper or better system. This “NHSwashing” is a useful distraction, but the Microsoft anti-trust case is growing.’

A Business Department source confirmed Mr Kwarteng was looking at whether Microsoft’s business practices had raised anti-competition issues.

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