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UK: Competition Commission forces hospital sales

By  |  January 16, 2014

The UK’s Competition Commission has reportedly ordered two major healthcare groups to divest a total of nine hospitals following an investigation that found a lack of competition and hikes healthcare costs.

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    The Commission will require HCA to sell two London hospitals, while rival BMI must sell off seven hospitals throughout the UK. The move follows regulatory findings that providers have kept prices artificially inflated due to the market dominance held by BMI and HCA.

    Third competitor Spire similarly holds a dominant position in the healthcare industry, the Commission found, and the group’s hold over the market meant tough entry barriers to new competition.

    The Commission is set to schedule its final report in March.

    Full Content: The Guardian

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