Crisis profiteers have always existed, we hear? Following in-depth and substantiated investigations, “Cash Investigation” reveals the practices of two of them: energy brokers and suppliers, and large groups of medical analysis laboratories. A number not to be missed, which should have significant repercussions.
Journalist Claire Tesson first went to Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais) to meet a baker, a large energy consumer. Seduced by a broker, he left Engie for ENI, before seeing his bill increase exponentially.
This subject will speak to many. What follows is a revelation. Claire Tesson reveals the practices of the broker Energies France. The viewer will discover the “methods” of managers to “warm up” salespeople and the advice given, such as “playing on [their] charm” or not hesitating to lie. Collateral damage, he will also learn why all EDF customers were cheated, and how the taxpayer was involved, without knowing it.
Substantial margins
The taxpayer is also at the heart of the second subject: medical analysis laboratories. Six large groups dominate the sector: Cerba, Eurofins, Biogroup, Inovie, Unilabs and Synlab.
Among the important sequences, the meeting between Elise Lucet and François Braun, when he was Minister of Health, in the summer of 2023. He then wanted the laboratories to take their part in the savings to be made to rebalance the Security accounts social – in view of the substantial margins made on PCR tests, particularly in 2020, and estimated at between 30 and 40 euros per test. “I will win, because it is my duty to make the best use of Social Security money,” declared François Braun to Elise Lucet. A few days later, he left the government. An agreement will then be signed with the laboratories, very favorable to them.
“Cash Investigation” also investigated Eurofins, the French group number one in the world in analysis, owned by the Martin brothers. “Cash Investigation” will show how they were able to enrich themselves to the point of investing in luxury seasonal rentals on the Côte d’Azur.
Further on, the investigation into the Inovie group will show the role of investment funds in an LBO (leveraged buy-out, a financial arrangement) and how, when such funds enter into the capital of laboratories, shareholders can rejoice and employees can worry.
A fascinating investigation which comes at just the right time, as the decree on the doubling of the medical franchise was published on February 17 in the Official Journal: from March 31, the amount payable by the patient for the purchase of a box of medicines will go from 50 cents to 1 euro.
