The consequences of european competiton law for social health care providers

This book concentrates upon the applicationof EC competition rules to social healt care providers. It traces the impact of these rules on the professionals and institutions trusted by the Member States, and the citizens of those states, to provide a basic level of health care. The prospect of greater productive and allcoate effinciency has encouraged many states to consider an increased role for competition within their social health care systems. The introduction of various market structures and incentives has led to questions abouh the applicability of European Community competition law in the health care sector. This book focuses upon the potential impact of these competition rules on social health care providers. The concept of health care providers includes professionals, such as doctors, nurses, consultants, surgeons, counsellors and physiotherapists, as well as institutions such as hospitals an health care centres. This work concentrates upon two basic questions. The first question is can EC competition law be applied to the group of professionals and institutions, which have been made responsible for providing a basic level of health care protection for the people of Europe? The second question is should EC competition rules be applied to this group?