The Romanian authorities show increase concerns for competition issues in the health sector (National Health Programs)

The past few years have shown an increased need for competition analysis in relation to the National Health Programs that have been adopted by the Romanian authorities based on the legal provisions. Background The market for pharmaceuticals is a nationally regulated market in all the Member States of the European Union and a direct consequence of this is that the State may establish the price at which the pharmaceuticals can be sold and the manner in which they can be acquired. In Romania, one such way of acquiring pharmaceuticals was represented through the National Health Programs. Each National Health Program consisted of a number of activities and services established through operation of law, with the purpose of achieving prevention and treatment of a number of diseases that