Latvia's Competition Council has concluded its market surveillance of the pharmaceutical retail sector, finding that the market is becoming increasingly concentrated with a limited number of active operators.
The regulator's findings highlight a structural shift in the Baltic nation's healthcare distribution landscape, where fewer firms are commanding larger shares of the retail pharmacy space.
The report identifies high regulatory and administrative entry barriers as the most significant constraint on competition, rather than the vertical integration of supply chains.
According to the Council, these hurdles restrict the ability of new market participants to enter the sector, thereby entrenching the position of incumbent players.
This distinction is critical for policymakers, as it suggests that competition issues stem from market access rules rather than corporate structure alone.
The findings come as European regulators increasingly scrutinize healthcare supply chains for resilience and competitive balance.