The Dutch family doctors’ association LHV has been fined €7.7m by the competition body NMa for limiting doctors’ rights to set up business where they like.

The NMa says the association has an official policy about where doctors can locate their surgeries and that this breaks competition laws. Two LHV officials have also been given individual fines of €50,000 and €25,000 because the NMa considers them responsible for the policy.
‘We made it clear to the LHV that limiting the rights of doctors to operate where ever they like is illegal,’ NMa spokesman Henk Don is quoted as saying in a statement.
The LHV has already said it is shocked by the fines and will appeal. ‘We completely disagree with the NMa’s conclusions,’ the organisation said in a statement. ‘We want to ensure everyone has a family doctor close by. That is what our efforts are directed towards.’