Probe finds doctors are operating price cartel

The Competition Authority is investigating doctor’s charges:

HUGE numbers of Irish doctors are operating a cartel which fixes prices for a range of their services. This is the central allegation of a major new Competition Authority (CA) investigation. And the authority has told the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) it now intends to take legal proceedings. In a letter to the IMO, the authority says the price-fixing “caused and continues to cause, significant harm to consumers”. The IMO represents approximately 6,000 doctors, including 2,000 self-employed GPs. Medical sources said that while this investigation had to do with a limited range of services, it is bound to raise questions about GP charges generally.