KDH: Lab Cartel Fines Show Waste in Healthcare System

Bratislava, 12 May (TASR) - Million-euro fines for a cartel in laboratories show that money is unnecessarily leaking from the healthcare system, opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) stated in response to a decision by the Antimonopoly Office (PMU), which uncovered a cartel agreement among operators of medical laboratories in Slovakia. TASR learnt the news from KDH press department on Tuesday. "Today's PMU report on million-euro fines for a cartel in laboratories is proof that enormous amounts of money are unnecessarily leaking from Slovak healthcare. Slovakia, as a small market, is vulnerable to possible cartel agreements. Thorough oversight is necessary, and therefore we welcome the non-final PMU decision," said KDH vice-chair Peter Stachura. In KDH's view, cartel agreements are not the only problem, and the system itself is failing. "This situation is a direct consequence of a long-term flawed system. The lack of interconnected electronic laboratory examination data means health insurance companies reimburse duplicate and unnecessary procedures every day. This money does not help patients in any way, but at the expense of other healthcare services it fills the pockets of selected companies, which on top of that are able to lobby for better prices," said MP Frantisek Majersky (KDH). Earlier in the day, representatives of PMU reported that PMU had uncovered a cartel involving four medical laboratories and one association operating in Slovakia. It imposed fines totalling nearly €15 million for the anti-competitive conduct identified. The decision is currently only a first-instance and non-final ruling, as most of the entities concerned have appealed against it. mf