CARTELS: AMO conducted inspections at undertakings in health sector

From 8 to 10 October 2024 the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic (AMO) was conducting unannounced inspections at the business premises of undertakings operating in the market of providing institutional health care.

AMO conducted the inspections based on a suspicion that there had been an agreement between the undertakings concerned, the aim or consequence of which had been or could have been the restriction of competition, namely in the form of price agreements, the exchange of commercially sensitive information and the coordination of conduct of parties to the agreement in negotiations with health insurance companies.

In the given case, there could be a horizontal agreement between direct competitors, which is one of the most serious infringements of competition rules and is considered as a hardcore cartel. The possible agreement either had been aimed at or could have resulted in the exclusion or reduction of intensity of competition between its participants during the process of negotiating contractual terms, including price terms, in relation to health insurance companies. If such an agreement is proved, undertakings may be fined up to 10 % of turnover for the previous closed accounting period.

The fact that AMO conducted the inspections does not imply that the undertakings concerned infringed competition rules, nor does it prejudge the conclusions of investigation.

At this stage of investigation, AMO does not provide any further information on the case.