The Auckland lab wars

The fight in Auckland over the medical laboratory contract is a fascinating one.

Talk to many in the medical establishment and you will hear that Labtests Auckland has no local support and will be unable to meet the contract. They say this is just about one man, Dr Tony Bierre, fell out with all the other pathologists, failed in a personal grievance against them, and improperly used his position on the Auckland District Health Board to put together a rival bid using imported staff from Australia.

The Herald has an article on Dr Bierre.

On the other hand it seems clear that the incumbent supplier, Diagnostic Medlabs, was not tendering competitively because it thought its position was unchallengable as it had every local pathologist, bar one, on board. They were effectively a monopoly, and took advantage of it.

So I’m not sure who I want to win the lawsuit. Comments from those close to the action are welcome.