Argentina: Private clinics fined for price fixing

Argentina’s Ministry of Commerce has fined 15 clinics in the province of Salta, along with the Association of Clinics and Private Sanitaries of the Province of Salta (ACLISASA) for $22,768,860 Argentine pesos (approximately US$1,322,000) for taking part in an alleged price-fixing cartel. The decision is the result of an investigation by the country’s competition watchdog, the National Commission for the Defense of Competition (CNDC).

Through a price agreement, the clinics under investigation had increased the price of sanatorium benefits charged to health fund administrators (social, mutual and other entities) and prepaid medicine companies.

Miguel Braun, Secretary of Commerce, decided to initiate an ex officio nationwide investigation against the Argentine Confederation of Clinics, Sanatoriums and Hospitals (CONFECLISA) for the elaboration and dissemination to its associates of referential values ​​for sanatorium benefits. The sanctioned conduct consisted of the formation of a cartel by clinics in the cities of Salta, Tartagal and Metán, in the province of Salta, in order to fix the agreed prices with health funds.

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