The ACCC has granted interim authorisation to Fred IT Group to make, but not give effect to, one or more contracts, arrangements or understandings involving MediSecure and its related bodies corporate to facilitate a smooth transition to a sole-provider model for prescription delivery systems for publicly-funded electronic scripts.
Following a procurement process, the Department of Health and Aged Care has appointed Fred IT Group to be the sole provider of Prescription Delivery Services for publicly-funded electronic prescriptions. Granting interim authorisation will allow Fred IT Group and MediSecure to negotiate the terms of transition prior to the ACCC’s final determination but will not allow Fred IT Group to give effect to these contracts.
The ACCC considers this interim authorisation is likely to result in public benefits in the form of a smooth move to the Department’s preferred sole-provider model for Prescription Delivery Systems. This will avoid disruption to the provision of publicly-funded prescribed medicines and prevent the loss of consumer data through the transition.
Interim authorisation commences immediately and provides protection from legal action for conduct that may otherwise breach the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 while the ACCC considers the substantive application. The ACCC may review the interim authorisation at any time and its interim authorisation decision should not be taken to be indicative of whether or not final authorisation will be granted.
Further information about the ACCC’s decision is available on the ACCC’s public register at: Fred IT Group Pty Ltd and Ors.