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Life Sciences Bulletin: Competition Commission inquiry into pharmaceutical market in Serbia

On 10 January 2025, the Serbian Commission for Protection of Competition (“Commission“) announced its sector inquiry into the pharmaceutical market in Serbia. The Commission is currently sending out questionnaires to pharmacies with, in their own words, “a high number of retail spaces”.

The sector analysis will:

  • evaluate the terms and conditions of competition in this market, focusing on pharmaceuticals that are prescribed and sold through the Serbian mandatory health insurance; and
  • analyse price formation, participants’ market shares, potential barriers to entry, as well as vertical relationships in the market such as those between wholesalers and pharmacies.

The aim of the inquiry is to develop and recommend measures and activities to regulators such as the Serbian Agency for Medicine and Medical Devices (ALIMS) and the Ministry of Health, as well as to market participants, for the improvement of competition conditions in the market.

Based on the Serbian Competition Protection Law, the Commission is authorised to conduct these kinds of sector analyses in cases where price fluctuations or other circumstances indicate limitation, violation, or prevention of competition. As part of these analyses, the Commission generally compiles questionnaires for market participants, in order to collect data and documents for its assessment. The Commission has the right to request the disclosure of any relevant agreements, decisions and notices on concerted practices from market participants.

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