ACM allows collaborations between independent pharmacies

Collaborations between independent pharmacies that are not each other’s competitors are allowed to negotiate collectively with health insurers. That is the position of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) in its informal opinion for Cooperative Association PACT U.A., which represents around 40 pharmacies in the Netherlands. 

More widely applicable in the health care industry

Chris Fonteijn, Chairman of the Board of ACM, comments: ‘The system behind the chosen model for collaboration can also be applied to other markets in the health care industry.’ Using several rules of thumb, it is assessed which parties do not compete with one another, and which are thus allowed to negotiate collectively with health insurers. An objective data set is used for that assessment. If there are any uncertainties, an independent third party is brought in. Health insurers have a big say in the assessment of mutual competitive pressure among parties.

More information on the different options for collaborations in health care can be found in the Guidelines for the health care industry.

• Guidelines for the health care industry (in Dutch)