08.17.11
Italy’s Antitrust Authority has hit Philips Healthcare, Siemens AG and Toshiba Medical Systems with a combined $7.4 million fine on allegations of conspiracy to control the supply of certain medical devices to an Italian healthcare company.
Most of the fine will be shouldered by Philips, which must pay $5.6 million. Siemens was ordered to pay $1.6 million while Toshiba Medical Systems Italia Srl is shelling out $202,000. A fourth party, diagnostic imaging services provider Alliance Medical Srl, was fined about $59,000.
The investigation began when GE Medical Systems Italia filed a complaint accusing the other four companies of conspiring to coordinate bidding efforts to land a supply contract with Societa Regionale Sanita of Campania.
According to the Antitrust Authority, Siemens and Alliance collaborated to provide medical imaging machines and subcontracted Philips and Toshiba to provide other rental machines.
The four companies make up about 68 percent of medical device sales in Italy.
Most of the fine will be shouldered by Philips, which must pay $5.6 million. Siemens was ordered to pay $1.6 million while Toshiba Medical Systems Italia Srl is shelling out $202,000. A fourth party, diagnostic imaging services provider Alliance Medical Srl, was fined about $59,000.
The investigation began when GE Medical Systems Italia filed a complaint accusing the other four companies of conspiring to coordinate bidding efforts to land a supply contract with Societa Regionale Sanita of Campania.
According to the Antitrust Authority, Siemens and Alliance collaborated to provide medical imaging machines and subcontracted Philips and Toshiba to provide other rental machines.
The four companies make up about 68 percent of medical device sales in Italy.