GCRA - Half Year Report 2023

HALF-YEAR REPORT
FOR 2023
Achievements
Competition law investigation into the provision of optometric services
Following a complaint, the GCRA opened
an investigation into the provision of
optometric services in Guernsey. It sent
out formal information requests and
analysed the responses to determine
whether providers of optometric services
had made anti-competitive agreements
with each other as alleged in the complaint.
The GCRA noted that some of the businesses
that provided information to it had very
effective competition compliance systems
in place and had made sure that their
discussions with other optometrists remained
compliant with competition law. However, the
investigation also revealed that although the
evidence did not clearly support the complaint
made, several businesses had engaged in
other types of collective action that might give
rise to further competition concerns outside
the scope of the original investigation.
The GCRA therefore decided to close the
original investigation but to keep this sector
under review. It also intends to publish
guidance to improve future compliance
in this area.
“To increase the
sustainability of health
and care services,
the Plan for Sustainable
Health and Care Services
portfolio will need to
focus on achieving the
following; To mitigate
cost increases - to reduce
the financial impact
of increasing demand,
resource competition
and new treatments so
that services remain
accessible and other
public services are not
unduly restricted...”
8 | GUERNSEY COMPETITION & REGULATORY AUTHORITY GCRA | 9