UK: Ex-health minister raises brows at competition regulators

The UK’s former health minister Paul Burstow told reporters he is concerned over the Competition Commission and Office of Fair Trading’s recent behavior regarding the enactment of the Health Act 2012, expressing doubts over whether the new healthcare sector watchdog Monitor will be the main regulator over NHS services and not competition regulators.

In an interview, Burstow said he would like to see the legal framework re-examined to ensure that Monitor plays the “referee” over NHS services. In an interview, he said he was concerned how the new legislation “opened op the role of the OFT” as one that is “disproportionate.”

Further, he said he is concerned that the new legislation is not working the way it was intended.

As part of the new legislation, the OFT was allowed to refer foundation trust mergers to the Commission. But last January, the OFT ruled that non-foundation trusts fell under the OFT’s jurisdiction.

Full Content: Health Service Journal

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