Following our previous announcements on the publication of the draft terms of reference for the Competition Commission's market inquiry into the private healthcare sector, the Commission has now confirmed that its long-awaited inquiry is set to commence in November 2013.
The inquiry was set to start during September 2013 but it was postponed as a result of the number of responses the Commission received from interested parties following the publication of the draft terms of reference in May 2013.
The objective of the inquiry is to identify the factors that affect competition in the private healthcare market and to provide a factual basis upon which relevant recommendations can be made in the interests of a more affordable, accessible and innovative private healthcare market. There are a number regulatory and legislative changes to the national health policy in the pipeline that depend on the outcome of the inquiry. Once initiated, the inquiry is set to be completed within 18 to 24 months, with the main focus set to be placed on hospital groups and specialist doctors.