ACCC clears Calvary Healthcare's purchase of Hobart Private Hospital amid service worries

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission gave the green light for Calvary Healthcare to buy Hobart Private Hospital, making it the fifth private hospital run by the Catholic group in Tasmania. The sale follows Healthscope’s parent companies entering voluntary administration and an orderly divestment of its assets. Calvary’s existing hospitals follow a Catholic code that excludes services such as gender-affirming care, surgical terminations, vasectomies and fertility treatments, raising fears that these will disappear from Hobart Private.

Bridget Archer, Tasmania’s health minister, described the transaction as a positive step for private health capacity but pledged to ensure vulnerable Tasmanians retain access to the contested services. Health Department secretary Dale Webster said alternative providers, including Nexus for IVF, are being secured to prevent any service gap. Advocacy leader Yalei Wilson condemned the decision as discriminatory and urged the anti-discrimination commissioner to launch an inquiry.