The Czech competition authority has granted approval for Penta Hospitals Holdings Limited to acquire exclusive control over Group Mediterra a.s., which operates six medical facilities in the Czech Republic. The authority determined that this merger in the healthcare sector, specifically in outpatient and inpatient services, will not lead to a substantial distortion of competition.

Penta, part of an international group, operates in various sectors including healthcare, pharmacy, real estate, and banking within the Czech Republic. Group Mediterra runs six medical facilities located in Prague, Mělník, Sedlčany, Tanvald, and Velké Meziříčí, and also operates a medical school in Mělník.

The authority focused on the impact of the merger in Prague, where both parties have healthcare facilities, and in Mělník, where Mediterra's hospital is located near Penta's hospitals. The analysis revealed that the merger would not significantly increase the market share of the merging parties in the inpatient healthcare market in Prague, nor would it adversely affect patient choice in Mělník.

Furthermore, the merger also touches upon the wholesale distribution of pharmaceuticals and pharmacy goods. However, due to the low volume of pharmaceutical purchases by Mediterra's healthcare facilities, the merger is not expected to strengthen Penta's distributor, ViaPharma, or disadvantage its competitors.