Sale of Hobart Private Hospital to Calvary raises concerns

Hospital + Healthcare Magazine · 9 hrs ago · 17 views

The ACCC has approved the sale of Hobart Private Hospital from Healthscope to Calvary Healthcare. The Tasmanian Government welcomed the sale, with the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Bridget Archer, calling it “a really positive outcome, ensuring Tasmanians continue to have access to a range of healthcare services across the state”. “It will ensure the continued availability of private health services for Hobart and surrounds, helping to take pressure off our public system and supporting Tasmanians when they need it.” In its approval determination, dated 27 August, the ACCC stated: “The ACCC has had regard to feedback received from several third parties (including medical practitioners and industry bodies) regarding certain services currently provided at Hobart Private, which Calvary would likely not provide if the Acquisition proceeds, given that Calvary operates in accordance with the Catholic Code. The services that would likely not be provided by Calvary at Hobart Private if the Acquisition proceeds include certain IVF and other assisted reproductive services, voluntary assisted dying, elective terminations of pregnancy, and gender reassignment procedures. “Having regard to all the material currently before it, the ACCC considers that these particular private hospital services would likely cease being provided at Hobart Private in both the future with and without the Acquisition.” (2.18–2.19) The ACCC also noted that, based on the materials before it, “in the absence of a commercially realistic alternative purchaser, and in the context of Healthscope’s voluntary administration, there is a real prospect that Hobart Private would cease operating as a private hospital in the future without the Acquisition” and that “Calvary would be the sole major private hospital offering overnight services in Hobart following the Acquisition” (2.16). In the Tasmanian Government’s same 28 August statement, Archer said: “We understand the concerns raised around what services will be offered by Calvary and I note the ACCC’s acknowledgement services would likely cease. “We have been clear that we will ensure there is no service gap for vulnerable Tasmanians, with some services already resolved, such as IVF services, and we continue to work through details to resolve others.” The sale follows Healthscope entering administration in May 2025. You can read the ACCC’s full 27 August determination here. Image credit: iStock.com/PeopleImages