PMÚ fined four largest medical laboratory operators €14.5m for cartel

The anti‑trust authority PMÚ fined the four largest medical laboratory operators €14.5m for a cartel and banned them from participating in public procurement for three years. The exception is Unilabs, backed by Swedish capital, which admitted to the cartel. The firms coordinated prices for health insurers and hospitals, including during the recent pandemic. Labs rank among the most profitable segments in healthcare. Medirex (Radoslav Bardún) was fined €8m, Klinická biochémia (Vladimír Ježík) €2m, Unilabs €2.8m, and synlab (German capital) €1.7m. Medirex denies wrongdoing and will appeal in court.

(pravda.sk, sme.sk)