Kursk Regional Clinical Hospital

History

2024: FAS identified a cartel in the Kursk region when supplying medical equipment for ₽55 million

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has identified a cartel agreement when supplying medical equipment to the Kursk Regional Clinical Hospital for a total amount of more than ₽55 million. According to the results of the investigation, it was found that a group of entrepreneurs associated with related and financial and economic relations acted in concert to overestimate the value of state contracts concluded for the supply and adjustment of medical devices. The results of the investigation, initiated based on the materials of the regional prosecutor's office, were announced on October 24, 2024.

According to the press service of the FAS department in the Kursk region, information about a possible conspiracy came from the Prosecutor's Office of the Kursk region. During the investigation, it turned out that the cartel members consistently submitted commercial offers at an inflated cost, ensuring that the maximum contract price was set. To fulfill orders, they involved contractors who actually delivered and installed equipment. At the same time, the cost of the work performed and the equipment supplied amounted to about ₽29 million, which is half the amount indicated in the contracts.

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Freepik

Representatives of the antimonopoly department stressed that these actions of entrepreneurs led to significant losses for the state, since the real cost was significantly lower than stated in the contract documents. Now the guilty business entities face negotiable administrative fines provided for by law.

In addition, taking into account the damage caused, the actions of the cartel participants can be qualified as a criminal offense under Article 178 of the Criminal Code of Russia, which regulates violation of antitrust laws.^[1]

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