ACM clears merger between two western Dutch hospitals

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has cleared the merger between two hospitals in the western Dutch province of North-Holland: the Waterland Hospital in the city of Purmerend and the Westfriesgasthuis hospital in the city of Hoorn. ACM has established that the options of patients and health insurers will not significantly change as a result of the merger. That is why ACM has cleared this merger.

ACM’s investigation has revealed that few patients see these two hospitals as each other’s alternatives. If patients decide not to go to the hospital in their own regions, they go to hospitals in other cities such as Alkmaar, Den Helder or Amsterdam to get their treatments. As a result, the two merger hospitals hardly compete with one another.

What do health insurers and patient organizations say about the merger?

The health insurers and patient organizations of both hospitals are predominantly positive about this merger. The patient organizations say that the merger appears to be needed to preserve hospital care in the region. The health insurers conclude that not much will change in their opportunities for negotiations with hospitals. After all, patients do not choose between these two hospitals, but go to entirely different ones instead.