The National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) believes that the publication of prices for orthopaedic products may increase the risk of collusion among operators, which could result in a reduction in competition and higher prices, with negative consequences for users, the National Health System, and the mutual insurance companies themselves.
This is what the CNMC (National Commission for the Promotion of Health) has stated after analyzing in a report the possibility of making public the prices of orthopaedic products financed by the National Health System (NHS), at the request of the Ministry of Health. The consultation stems from the difficulties some mutual insurance companies for civil servants face in directly contacting establishments that dispense these products. Publication of prices is proposed as a possible solution.
At this point, the CNMC recommends seeking alternatives that are less harmful to effective competition than the publication of prices. It also recommends ensuring that, through collaboration with the autonomous communities and the Ministry of Health itself, public health mutual insurance companies have access to the necessary data so they can communicate directly with establishments dispensing orthopaedic products. It also advocates advancing digitalization and interoperability, both within the various existing public systems and with the dispensing establishments.
Beyond the specific issue of price publication, the CNMC also proposes reviewing key aspects of the financing system for these products. Among these aspects, it suggests improving the methodology used to update the catalog, establishing the Maximum Financing Amounts (IMF), and setting the Offer price. It also recommends reviewing the access regime for operators and shortening processing times to streamline the process.
The CNMC reminds us that it may act in an advisory capacity and may be consulted by legislative chambers, the government, ministerial departments, autonomous communities, local authorities, professional associations, chambers of commerce, and business, consumer, and user organizations, or trade associations.
