The pharmaceutical industry plays an important role in every economy. Although the pharmaceutical sector has distinctive financial features, principles of competition law must be applied to the production and distribution of pharmaceuticals as in all other areas of the economy.
Regulations regarding unilateral anticompetitive conduct such as discriminatory pricing, aggressive price setting, abuse of a dominant position, hoarding and refusal to enter into transactions as well as collective anticompetitive practices such as collusion are important competition rules which are applicable in the pharmaceutical industry.
Although competition law and regulations are indispensable to the pharmaceutical industry, professional ethics can play an effective role as a deterrent factor and prevent anticompetitive conduct. This article reviews the application of competition law in the pharmaceutical industry and identifies anticompetitive behaviors in this sector. It also focuses on the role of the competition council in monitoring the pharmaceutical industry and the impact of professional ethics in preventing violations of competition law in this sector.