Competition body probes Cimas

of medical insurance for pathology services . . . ,” said the CTC in a statement.
Allegations are that Cimas has been requiring its members getting services from Lancet Laboratories to pay cash instead of using their medical aid cards thereby compelling members to use Cimas Medical Laboratories where cards are accepted, thus constituting restrictive practices.
The CTC after completing the full-scale investigation can take action in terms of the Competition Act of 1996 and can order a firm to stop unfair business practices. The force of an order by the CTC carries the same weight as a court judgment and after passing an order, the commission registers it with the High Court.
Cimas was also last year involved in another alleged case of “restrictive practice” in the ambulance sector along with another medical aid society, PSMAS.
This was after Nestar Ambulances had lodged a complaint with the CTC that the two medical aid societies were refusing to pay for services rendered by Nestar.
However, CTC’s plans to probe the allegations were dropped after Nestar decided against proceeding with the matter.