The Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) has imposed a fine totalling GEL 8,000 on LLC "Imermedi"-Imereti Regional Medical Centre (Terjolamedi) for failure to provide information requested by the Agency.
Pursuant to the Chairman's order, the Agency is conducting a monitoring initiative into the healthcare services market with a view to assessing the competitive environment. In the course of that monitoring initiative, and with a view to establishing the circumstances relevant to the case, the Agency requested information from the undertaking concerned. The undertaking failed to submit the requested information within the statutory deadline and did not cooperate with the Agency. The undertaking subsequently disregarded a repeated request issued by the Agency.
Having examined the matter, the Agency imposed fines on the undertaking on two separate occasions, in a total amount of GEL 8,000.
Under the applicable legislation, the Agency is empowered, within the framework of ongoing administrative proceedings, to request from an undertaking such information including confidential information as is necessary for the proceedings, and to set a reasonable deadline for its submission. Failure to provide information or documentation requested by the Agency within the deadline set, and the provision of incorrect or incomplete information to the Agency, shall be subject to a fine of GEL 3 000 in the case of legal entities and GEL 1 000 in the case of natural persons. The imposition of a fine shall not relieve the person concerned of the obligation to submit the requested information to the Agency.
Furthermore, failure to provide the information within a newly set deadline shall result in an additional fine of GEL 5 000 in the case of legal entities and GEL 3 000 in the case of natural persons.
