ACM clears acquisition of Ommelander Hospital Group by University Medical Center Groningen

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has cleared the acquisition of Ommelander Hospital Group by University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). Both organizations are active in the north of the Netherlands. Competition between hospitals in that region will see little change after the acquisition. Health insurers will have enough alternatives in the region such as the Martini Hospital in the city of Groningen, the hospital of the Treant health care group in the town of Stadskanaal, and possibly the hospitals in the cities of Assen and Drachten.

With this clearance, the Ommelander Hospital Group is able to continue with the construction of a new hospital in the town of Scheemda. The client councils of both hospitals are positive about the acquisition because, as a result thereof, health care in the region will continue to exist, and they expect quality at the Ommelander Hospital Group to improve further. Health insurers did not have any objections against the acquisition. They believe they are able to make satisfactory arrangements about prices of treatments at the Ommelander Hospital Group and at the UMCG. As other hospitals continue to exist in the vicinity of both merger hospitals, ACM believes there are enough options for health insurers to negotiate successfully about price, quality, and accessibility of the hospitals.