The EU Court of Justice rules on the quasi-monopoly of medical aid organisations over the transport of patients by ambulance in the land of Rheinland-Pfalz (Ambulanz Glöckner / Landkreis Südwestpfalz)

THE COURT OF JUSTICE RULES ON THE QUASI-MONOPOLY OF MEDICAL AID ORGANISATIONS OVER THE TRANSPORT OF PATIENTS BY AMBULANCE IN THE LAND OF RHEINLAND-PFALZ* The general interest task of transporting patients entrusted by law to medical aid organisations may justify a restriction of competition in a geographically limited area if that restriction is necessary for the task concerned in order to achieve an overall economic balance In 1990, Ambulanz Glöckner obtained authorisation, expiring in October 1994, to provide a patient transport service. In July 1994, it applied for the renewal of its authorisation to the competent territorial authorities (Landkreis).