The ACCC has accepted an undertaking from Healthscope that it will divest itself of Gippsland Pathology, the Gribbles Wangaratta laboratory and the Dorevitch laboratories at Benalla and Albury. The merger of the remainder of the pathology businesses of Healthscope (Gribbles Pathology) and Symbion Health (Dorevitch Pathology) has been approved on this basis.

Read the Undertaking by Healthscope here  Healthscope Limited. The merger is still subject to approval by shareholders, and could yet be derailed by Primary Health which has been buying up shares in Symbion and currently holds 17.8%. Healthscope is playing down the risk. Primary move on Symbion 'unlikely' - Business - theage.com.au Watch this space!

We will be holding meetings of members to discuss the implications of the ACCC’s decision, the proposed merger and the divestiture undertakings. We met with MSAV members at Gippsland Pathology at Traralgon last night, and will hold further meetings with members at regional and metropolitan locations over the coming weeks.

Meeting of Dorevitch and Gribbles Members: Tuesday 21 August 2007 at the MSAV Offices, Trades Hall, Carlton South at 6.00 pm.