SaS: Union-Dovera Merger Bad for Patients and Healthcare Providers Alike

Bratislava, 15 July (TASR) - Opposition's Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party describes the announced acquisition of health insurer Union by Dovera as bad news for the country's healthcare system, arguing that the deal will significantly reduce competition in the health insurance market, and affect both patients and healthcare providers, TASR was told by SaS press department specialist Michal Goffa on Wednesday. In SaS's view, the solution is not further centralisation but the introduction of genuine competition through insurance plans and supplementary health insurance. SaS MP Tomas Szalay warned that the merger will create a de facto duopoly in Slovakia. "The merger of Dovera and Union is not good news either for patients or healthcare providers. Patients will have fewer choices, while providers will see their bargaining position undermined. A duopoly of the state-owned insurer and a single private health insurer will emerge, and that is never good for a competitive market," he said. Szalay added that even with fewer insurers, the health insurance system could still be improved to deliver greater benefits for patients. "We need to introduce supplementary health insurance and insurance plans that create genuine competition for patients. Insurers should not compete only through marketing but above all through the quality of services and the healthcare they provide," he stressed. SaS chair Branislav Grohling said competition was not the problem facing Slovak healthcare but rather an untapped opportunity. "Competition is not something to fear. It's a tool for increasing patient satisfaction and improving the efficiency of the entire system. If we want better healthcare, we must create conditions in which insurers compete for the benefit of patients. That is exactly the direction healthcare insurance reform in Slovakia should take," he said. Szalay also said the transaction and its impact should be examined by the Antimonopoly Office. "It must determine whether this constitutes market concentration in a situation where we're not even certain this is a market. (...) And if it's not a fully functioning market, the Antimonopoly Office may not be able to intervene in any substantial way," the MP said. Achmea B.V., Union's shareholder, and Dovera, a member of the Penta investment group, have signed an agreement on the transfer of Union Health Insurance shares to Dovera with the aim of creating a stronger foundation for the further development of health insurance in Slovakia. The acquisition will be financed by Dovera's shareholder and not affect funds allocated for healthcare reimbursement. Once all the necessary approvals have been obtained, Union Health Insurance is expected to be merged with Dovera. mf