Private healthcare market inquiry continues

The five-year-old private healthcare market inquiry is now expected to have been concluded by 30 September, according to a Competition Commission notice gazetted last week. This is noting that the work of the panel and its external consultants was temporarily ‘suspended’ because of ‘budgetary constraints’, CompliNEWS contributor Pam Saxby reports. While the scope of the inquiry remains the same, the additional time now available will allow for ‘further extensive stakeholder engagements’ on ‘key aspects of the provisional findings and recommendations report published last July. Priority will be given to seminars originally planned for this month but postponed – and focusing on funder and facility market concentration, ‘excessive utilisation’ and ‘supply-induced demand’.