Competition authority investigates price hikes in private health

Portugal’s Competition Authority (AdC) is investigating an increase in prices in the private health sector due to the recent mergers and acquisitions seen in the sector, with share acquisitions in hospitals, clinics and other entities.

These increases are also concerning the sector authority, the Health Regulation Entity (ERS), which for now has not making a link between one thing and the other.

“The PCA is gathering evidence to assess whether there is a causal link between the alleged pressure to increase prices and the sector’s consolidation process, or if the pressure results from external factors like inflation or increasing difficulty in accessing human resources,” said the entity chaired by Nuno Cunha Rodrigues.

Between 2020 and 2025 alone, 11 mergers were reported involving at least one of the five largest operators — CUF, Luz Saúde, Lusíadas, Trofa and Hospital Particular do Algarve (HPA). In fact, the purchase of the HPA group by CUF is one of the deals that is receiving special attention from the Competition Authority.

Source: Público