Regional hospital cleared to acquire part of rival’s orthopaedic treatments

The St. Antonius Hospital in the central Dutch town of Nieuwegein is allowed to acquire part of the orthopaedic treatments of the St. Maartenskliniek hospital in the nearby town of Woerden. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has concluded that sufficient options remain for patients and insurers for orthopaedic treatments in that region.

The St. Maartenskliniek hospital offered orthopaedic treatments together with the St. Antonius Hospital at the location of the Zuwe Hofpoort Hospital in Woerden. This care was offered under the flag of the St. Maartenskliniek. The treatments of the St. Maartenskliniek hospital in Woerden will now be split, and the St. Antonius Hospital will take over a part of that care. From now on, the hospital will offer these treatments on its own in an outpatient clinic in Woerden, and at other locations of the St. Antonius Hospital in the city of Utrecht.

The St. Maartenskliniek hospital, too, will keep an outpatient orthopaedic clinic in Woerden. From now on, patients will have to travel to the eastern Dutch city of Nijmegen for procedures offered by the St. Maartenskliniek hospital.

Health insurers and patient organizations do not foresee any issues regarding this acquisition.