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2016 (3) TMI 1326 - AT - Indian LawsAnti-Competitive Activities - closure of proceedings of the case under Section 26(2) of the Competition Act, 2002 - discrimination followed by DGHS and ECHS between hospitals on the basis of their accreditation to the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and healthcare providers (NABH) - appellant - informant has alleged that there is no scientific basis to this discrimination. Whether DGHS and ECHS can be termed as 'enterprise' under Section 2(h) to make them liable under Sections 3 or 4 as the case may be? Whether there has been any discrimination introduced by the fact of accreditation of hospitals to NABH by fixing higher rates for the accredited hospitals and thereby creating a discriminatory environment not based on sound reasons leading to abuse of dominance by Respondent Nos. 1 and 2? Held that:- It can be clearly seen that CGHS is not just a facilitative mechanism but it also provides healthcare facilities by itself in the out-patient departments. In cases which require hospitalization or further specialized care, references are made to hospitals which are empanelled for the purpose. It is thus amply clear by its own admission that Respondent No. 1 is not just a facilitator for its target group to seek healthcare in empanelled hospitals but itself provides healthcare in its 273 allopathic dispensaries, 19 polyclinics, 73 labs and 85 Ayush hospitals. This network is further supplemented by private hospitals (648) and diagnostic centres (148). The last two are empanelled following a procedure given out in the Office Memorandum which has fixed differential rates for NABH accredited and non-accredited hospitals. Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) is a health scheme for serving/retired Central Government employees and their families." Further the DGHS is clearly in the nature of a service provider that does not perform a function which can be termed as inalienable, as explained in several cases referred above. It cannot be said to be performing a sovereign function and, therefore, warranting exclusion from the definition of enterprise. CGHS is clearly an enterprise which provides healthcare services to the target group and in order to do so, in view of the constraints on its capacity, it laterally complements its resources by empanelling hospitals which include private hospitals as well. Therefore, the process of empanelment is essentially an expansion of CGHS' activities of providing healthcare to the target group. It is not a facilitation but a clear provision of service. The Commission has taken a simplistic view of the activities of a Government department and has erred in appreciation of the scope of the definition of enterprise. Differential pricing for treatment/facilities provided by accredited and non-accredited hospitals - Held that:- Both sides did not dwell on the subject at length. Whether the differential pricing is justified or not or in what manner it creates alleged environment for abuse of dominance are matters of detailed investigation and this Tribunal would refrain from going into the same at this stage. The matter is remitted to the Commission for reconsideration - the Commission would take a prima facie view on whether a case is made out for investigation under Section 26(1) recognizing that DGHS is covered under the definition of 'enterprise' under Section 2(h) of the Act.
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