Penta, a major financial group in Slovakia, is allegedly using intimidation tactics against antitrust officials investigating a potential cartel agreement with Agel in the healthcare sector.
The financial group Penta has resumed its use of intimidation tactics, reminiscent of its past actions against journalists and investigators. This time, the attention is not from the police but from the Antitrust Office, which is investigating possible collusion between Penta and Agel, the two largest private healthcare providers in Slovakia. The investigation has been ongoing since 2024, focusing on whether they agreed on prices or volumes of healthcare services before negotiations with the General Health Insurance Company, the source of a significant portion of their revenue.
In 2024, the Antitrust Office conducted raids on the managers of both companies, seizing mobile phones and computers to gather evidence. Antitrust Office spokesperson Lívia Cseresová confirmed that Penta has filed 13 lawsuits in administrative court and has also made several criminal complaints against the office's employees. This reflects a classic tactic of Penta, which tends to retaliate against those investigating them rather than addressing the substantive issues raised by the investigations.
The implications of this situation are significant, as it raises concerns about corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and the overall health of Slovakia's healthcare system. The actions of Penta and Agel, if proven, could have serious repercussions for their operations and for the healthcare sector at large. Moreover, the discussion surrounding their alleged practices highlights ongoing issues of corruption and the struggle for accountability in Slovakia's business landscape.
