Competition Commission assures action to discipline healthcare providers: CUTS Project Meeting
PTI, July 07, 2010

Monopoly watchdog CCI has stated that it will take all necessary steps to address competition concerns in social sectors such as health and education.

Speaking at a CUTS International event here, Competition Commission of India (CCI) member Geeta Gouri said that it has the powers to take necessary action if evidence of collusive practices was shared with it.

However, due caution had to be exercised while using such powers, she added. Gouri also said that the CCI had recently initiated investigations into the practices of drug trader associations across the country.

The CCI member was speaking at the launch meeting of a project titled,'Collusive Behaviour in Health Delivery in India: Need for Effective Regulation'.

Healthcare veteran Mira Shiva urged the government to take immediate steps to stall the progressive decline in healthcare delivery in the country, for which collusive behaviour is a major contributing factor.

Another panelist, S Srinivasan, an expert on rational drug use, illustrated how big players in the pharmaceutical market have been making supernormal profits through high prices, which -- in turn -- have contributed significantly to impoverishment.

NGO CUTS International stated that it has initiated a year-long project to address collusive behaviour in healthcare delivery across the country.The project would involve field work, collection of secondary data, analytical research and organisation of workshops, it added.

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