The Norwegian competition authority has launched a new season of its podcast, Konkurransepodden, focusing on the competitive landscape of the pharmaceutical market. In this episode, the discussion centers around the challenges patients face in accessing necessary medications due to high prices and limited availability.

Magnus Friis Reitan, an economist and deputy head of the department for Food, Trade, and Health, delves into the world of pharmaceutical manufacturers. He addresses instances where pharmaceutical companies have engaged in illegal collaborations or abused their dominant market positions. The podcast explores the tactics used by some pharmaceutical producers to exclude competitors from the market.

Reitan emphasizes that many competition cases in the pharmaceutical sector revolve around access to life-saving medications. The episode sheds light on how pharmaceutical companies can restrict competition, ultimately affecting the costs borne by patients. Listeners can tune into Konkurransepodden on platforms like Acast and Spotify.