On July 16, 2026, the Latvian competition authority (KP) approved the merger between AS 'Veselības centru apvienība' (VCA) and AS 'Latvijas Jūras medicīnas centrs' (LJMC). This merger allows VCA to gain decisive influence over LJMC, which provides a wide range of outpatient and inpatient healthcare services.

VCA offers various medical, diagnostic, and rehabilitation services across multiple locations in Latvia, including Riga and Daugavpils. Their services also encompass pharmaceutical product manufacturing and retail, as well as dental and laboratory services. LJMC, on the other hand, provides specialized consultations, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and diagnostic services in Riga.

The KP concluded that the merger would affect primary and secondary outpatient healthcare service markets. However, the specific geographical market definitions remain open, as the KP's conclusions on the merger assessment do not change based on the geographical market applied.

Additionally, the KP identified vertically related affected markets, including the wholesale pharmaceutical products market and the laboratory testing services market, with the geographical definitions also left open. After evaluating the information provided by the companies, the KP determined that the merger would not significantly alter market structure, reduce competition, or create or strengthen a dominant position in any of the relevant markets.

To prevent significant reductions in competition due to mergers, the Latvian Competition Law requires approval from the KP for transactions meeting specific criteria. This ensures state control over market concentration, preventing structural changes that could limit consumer choices or lead to non-competitive pricing in the long term.