ANTICOMPETITIVE INFLUENCES
Health-market inquiry under fire for 'lax fact checking'
Health-market inquiry under fire for sounding the alarm on Remgro’s and Afrocentric’s interests ‘before full checks’
Independent economics consultancy Econex has criticised the Competition Commission’s health-market inquiry for sounding the alarm over the potentially anticompetitive effects of Remgro’s and Afrocentric’s interests in the private healthcare sector, saying it should have checked facts and spoken to the parties involved before publishing its concerns. The inquiry released a research note last week on cross-directorships and cross-ownerships in the private healthcare industry in which it said the size and scale of Remgro’s and Afrocentric’s financial stakes in the sector had the potential to stifle competition. The inquiry was established to determine whether there are barriers to competition and access in the private healthcare market. Econex MD Nicola Theron said the inquiry’s report was filled with allegations of implied misconduct yet failed to provide any evidence to back up its claims. "If they go on like this, they are going to lose credibility," Theron said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.