The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) jointly organized a seminar focusing on competition law challenges in the pharmaceutical market. This three-day professional event took place in Budapest from February 25 to 27, 2026, and saw participation from competition authority experts from nearly 20 countries.

The pharmaceutical industry plays a significant role in the economies and healthcare systems of OECD countries. It is not only a fundamental pillar of health preservation but also a high-value-added sector crucial for job creation, research and development, and international trade. Consequently, this topic encompasses numerous competition policy and law aspects that present tasks and challenges for national competition authorities.

The seminar specifically addressed the key challenges faced by smaller economies in their pharmaceutical markets, with a particular focus on competition law issues, especially concerning manipulation practices related to tenders and bids. Participants had the opportunity to delve deeper into various aspects of competition law, share their experiences, and benefit from the expertise of GVH specialists, while also gaining practical insights from competition law experts from OECD member countries.

During the event, it was highlighted that the Hungarian national competition authority is paying special attention to the pharmaceutical market. In mid-February 2026, the GVH initiated two competition supervision procedures concerning suspected anti-competitive practices and abuse of dominance.

The GVH and OECD's Regional Competition Educational Center was established on February 16, 2005, with the primary goal of providing support in competition law and policy to competition authorities in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, as well as Central Asia, through training and other professional programs. There are currently three such educational centers worldwide, located in Budapest, Peru, and the Republic of Korea, with a fourth center set to begin operations in Saudi Arabia this year.

The Budapest educational center celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025. During this time, the center has organized over 160 events, providing knowledge sharing and experience exchange opportunities for more than 6,000 experts. More information about the ROK's activities can be found on the websites of the Hungarian Competition Authority and the Regional Competition Educational Center.