Italy's antitrust authority said it is probing four companies, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Braun, Hollister and Coloplast, over possible restrictive practices in the colostomy bag market.
Specifically, the inquiry will look at the companies' conduct in applying for tenders to health authorities in Bologna and Ferrara provinces in the north of Italy, but it could be extended further.
The authority pointed to 'parallel behaviour' by the four companies in not applying for tenders in 2003 and 2004 in Ferrara despite their holding practically all of the Italian market.
This parallel behaviour could have been the result of decisions taken independently, or alternatively it could have been coordinated by the firms in a bid to limit competition on the market, it said.
The probing is expected to be completed in a years time.
Source: Forbes
1 comment:
Current colostomy bags don't smell nor do the folks that wear them. Today, colostomates have sophisticated pouches (bags) that are odor free, have deodorizing filters in them, and these folks have a much improved quality of life. The photo should go. It's insulting to the people who have to wear pouches to go on with their lives after major surgery and often dealing with cancer.
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