The AdC made a competitive analysis of the haemodialysis care provision sector in Portugal, and identified barriers to opening new haemodialysis facilities and limited degree of patient choice regarding the facilities where patients are treated.
Among the barriers to opening new facilities, the AdC highlighted the significant legal uncertainty in the regime of private contracting in the National Health Service (convention regime) and the delays when contracting a convention. This is particularly relevant considering the high level of concentration in the sector.
The high concentration of the market, the existence of unnecessary barriers to entry and the limited patient choice may have a negative impact on the well-being of chronic kidney disease patients by affecting their proximity to facilities.
The AdC considered it was crucial to promote effective and informed patient choice rather than a model that allocates patients to facilities, so as to intensify competition for quality and innovation in the sector.
The AdC put forward a set of recommendations to the Government, aimed at removing unnecessary barriers to opening new facilities and promote patient choice, so as to promote the well-being of chronic kidney disease patients.