AXA PPP's appeal against the Competition Market Authority has been dismissed, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has announced.
AXA PPP had challenged the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) decision, made in its final report in April 2014, that the formation of local anaesthetist groups did not have an adverse effect on competition.
In a judgment published today, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) dismissed the appeal on all 3 grounds.
The CAT held its hearing on the AXA PPP appeal in January 2015 when a separate challenge by the Federation of Independent Practitioner Organisations (FIPO) was also heard.
A judgment on the appeal by FIPO is expected shortly.
In December, the CAT agreed to the CMA's request to quash part of its final report relating to the healthcare market in central London - and remit it back to the CMA to reconsider and reach a new decision. Details on the remittal can be found on the case page.
In October 2014, the CMA published an order which put into force some of the changes required by the investigation.
