The Competition Authority has begun High Court action against the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) over the meidcal body's role in a dispute over life insurance fees.
The dispute began after a complaint was made to the Competition Authority during a disagreement between the IMO and life insurance companies over fees paid to GPs for certain types of medical information - private medical attendant's reports (PMARs) and medical examination reports.
The investigation covers the period between June 2004 and June 2005.
According to the competition body, the IMO's conduct hampered competition in the market for medical information and in the market for life insurance, which goes against section 4 (1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
It also claims that that the IMO directed or recommended to GPs not to provide PMARs or medical examination reports unless life insurance companies paid the fees.
The authority is seeking a declaration from the High Court that that the IMO breached the Competition Act, 2002, and is looking for an injunction against a repeat of the behaviour.