GOTHENBURG, Sweden, May 7, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Capio (Other OTC:CPOOF) is criticising the decision of the Regional Hospital Administration (Agence Regionale d'Hospitalisation-ARH) to partially close the Group's Polyclinique Marzet unit. The closure was ordered jointly by the French Health Ministry and ARH on April 18, which resulted in the abrupt relocation of 135 patients. The French authorities have still not provided any sufficiently clear reason for the partial closure of the unit. Nor have they fully specified what measures must be taken by Polyclinique Marzet and by the staff at the clinic, who are self-employed and not Capio employees.
Following an inspection, the French Health Ministry and ARH criticised the physicians' handling of patients. This led to the termination of all surgical and nursing care relating to the inpatients at the clinic with effect from April 18. The authorities undertook to provide detailed information within a short time and to specify the measures that must be taken before the clinic is reopened. No information was provided until May 2, when a preliminary report was received, which was supplemented on May 6 by further information, which referred to a number of fatalities. No specific information about the deaths was communicated, which has made it impossible for the clinic to implement the appropriate measures. Capio does not have access to the physicians' case records, since the doctors are all self-employed and not employed by the clinic. This means that Capio does not have access to the information necessary to take any action.
Paul Hokfelt, Senior Vice President and Head of Capio Healthcare France, comments:
"It is now time for everyone concerned to accept their responsibility. As long as ARH is not providing us with the requisite and complete information, we have no chance of reopening the clinic. We are considering the possibility of demanding compensation from the parties concerned. We are hoping for a positive and swift solution that will enable us to reopen Polyclinique Marzet in the near future."
Polyclinique Marzet has annual revenues of about EUR 15 M. Operations include surgery, oncology and medical treatment, but the clinic also has an outpatient care department and radiology facilities. The clinic has 240 employees. The operations have been included in the Capio Group since November 2002.
Gothenburg May 7, 2003 Capio AB (publ) For further information Paul Hokfelt, Senior Vice President, Head of Capio Healthcare France +33 688 05 91 60 Marie Wickman, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Capio AB +46 702 070 874 Catherine Gros, Press Relations Officer, Capio Healthcare France +33 689 87 61 64 Ulrika Stenson, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Capio AB +46 705 900 723
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