By MARTIN JOHNSTON health reporter
The Commerce Commission is investigating several Auckland anaesthetists after allegations that they have agreed to fix prices.
Commission spokesman Vince Cholewa said yesterday that the investigation involved only individual anaesthetists. Price-fixing was banned under the Commerce Act and carried fines of up to $500,000 for individuals and
up to $5 million for companies.
Mr Cholewa would not disclose the source of the allegations, nor the names of those being investigated. He did not know how many anaesthetists were involved.
The investigation began months ago and could go on for several more weeks.
Stephen Lowe, a lawyer representing about eight anaesthetists, said they had not been told of any specific allegations against them, "but they are confident they have complied with the act."
Anaesthetists spoken to by the Herald said they were not aware of any price-fixing, a view echoed by Tony Duncan, chief executive of the private-sector Mercy Hospital in Auckland.
There are about 100 anaesthetists practising in Auckland. Most divide their time between the private and public sectors, but up to 30 work exclusively in one or the other.
As well as the national professional bodies, there are four main groupings of anaesthetists in Auckland, providing services including office support, locums, and representation on technical issues such as hospital design, but they are not permitted to negotiate prices for members.
One anaesthetist said his grouping was "scrupulous" about not discussing prices.
Meanwhile, the commission is still investigating the system for allowing overseas-trained surgeons to practise in New Zealand.
And the High Court at Wellington has decided that the commission's case against a group of eye surgeons charged with colluding to stop foreign competition will go to trial in February.
