A medical implant has at least one interface for bidirectional wireless data exchange, a data memory, and a controller. The controller and interface perform a wireless data exchange with at least two different external devices, resulting in at least two different data communication channels, one channel being assigned to data communication with the programming device and a second channel being assigned to data communication with a central service center. The medical implant is also designed to receive control commands and/or messages over the second channel while the second channel is active, and to recognize received control commands and/or messages intended for a programming device, store them temporarily in a memory (if necessary), and forward them to a programming device via the first channel when the first channel is active.
