Chile: Medical professionals denounce ‘monopoly’ following tariff readjustment

Chile’s Medical College and medical professionals’ unions have said they will present a complaint before the country’s Competition Defense Tribunal (TDLC) over what they consider a “monopolistic and domineering behavior” from the National Health Fund. The unrest follows an annual readjustment of FONASA’s rates, which for two consecutive years have increased at a lower pace than the country’s market index.

“We consider FONASA to have engaged in monopolistic and dominant behaviors in setting their new tariffs” said Luis Velozo, General Secretary of the Medical college. The union requested the intervention of competition authorities two years ago, although that case was dismissed.

Commentingon the matter, Rafael Caviedes, president of Chile’s Association of Private Health Insurance Providers (ISAPRES) explained that the tariffs “are readjusted according to economic performance and the agreements that ISAPRES reach with clinics and medical providers, which is done individually, each ISAPRES negotiating with specific groups.

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