ECOWAS Position On Competition In The Pharma Market

The pharmaceutical sector in the ECOWAS region occupies a central role in the protection of public health and consumer welfare. It is a market in constant demand, given that the consumption of medicines is largely price inelastic, yet its structure reflects systemic weaknesses and persistent barriers to competition. Local production capacity remains limited and fragile. This has led to overwhelming dependence on imports, often exceeding ninety percent of national supply. This dependence, combined with fragmented legal regimes, the coexistence of national and regional competition rules, and the persistence of informal trade, creates a sector where compliance with regulation is both indispensable and complex.