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Marrakech – The Moroccan Medicines and Health Products Agency (AMMPS) has firmly denied reports circulating in some media outlets claiming a shortage of over 600 medications for chronic diseases in the country.
In an official statement, AMMPS stated that national data does not support these reported figures. The agency noted that if such extensive shortages were real, they would cause major disruptions to the healthcare system, something that has not been observed.
The agency acknowledged that occasional supply disruptions can occur, a phenomenon seen internationally. These disruptions are primarily linked to supply chain tensions, difficulties accessing raw materials, or global market fluctuations – constraints beyond any single country’s control.
AMMPS mentioned that Morocco proactively implements necessary measures to minimize impacts and ensure treatment continuity for patients.
Working closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and other stakeholders, the agency’s pharmaceutical market monitoring service continuously monitors and analyzes the national medication supply.
This monitoring system aims to detect potential supply tensions early and deploy rapid, targeted corrective measures when necessary to preserve access to essential medications.
The agency stated that this system has already proven effective in anticipating and proactively managing risk situations before they affect patients.
As part of the national pharmaceutical sovereignty strategy, AMMPS is deploying a policy structured around three priorities: strengthening local production by increasing the proportion of medicines manufactured in Morocco to reduce import dependency; promoting competition and developing generics to limit monopoly situations; and securing the supply of vital medicines through proactive planning and diverse sourcing.
A national uproar over drug prices
The agency’s dismissal of shortage reports likewise follows a fierce dispute over medicine costs in Morocco.
Last month, social media erupted when a Facebook post went viral describing how Baraclude, an antiviral prescribed for hepatitis B, reportedly cost MAD 5,266 ($526) in Morocco, while the identical medication from the same laboratory cost only MAD 580 ($58) in Turkey and approximately MAD 1,660 ($166) in France.
The price difference shocked many Moroccans. The post’s author claimed he had verified with Turkish sources that this was the normal market price in Turkey, not a subsidized rate, making the price in Morocco more than nine times higher.
Unions have pointed out that dozens of medications in Morocco are sold at significantly higher prices than abroad, with some costing two to five times more than in Europe.
Other industry sources suggested several possible explanations for the price discrepancies, including reference prices dropping in other countries while the medication was absent from the Moroccan market, successive devaluations of the Turkish lira, and differences in healthcare systems across reference countries.
The controversy centers on Morocco’s medication pricing system, which uses a decree more than ten years old. This system calculates prices based on rates in reference countries (France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the country of origin), selecting the lowest price as reference. Fixed margins for distributors and pharmacists are then applied, plus a 7% VAT.
Critics call this method rigid and disconnected from public health realities, as it fails to consider citizens’ purchasing power, sales volume, or medical priorities.
On July 21, Health Minister Amine Tahraoui announced to the House of Representatives that a new regulatory text is in its final phase and will soon be submitted to the Government Council. This reform aims to significantly reduce prices while balancing patient accessibility with support for local production.
The minister detailed that this reform was developed through over 30 meetings with industry federations, pharmacist representatives, and insurance sector officials.
The new model focuses on reducing price revision timeframes, implementing changes gradually to ensure market stability, protecting low-priced medications, and encouraging domestic production.
Subsequent investigations, however, revealed that Baraclude hasn’t been marketed in Morocco for at least five years. The medication was previously distributed by Maphar under license from Bristol-Myers Squibb before their local office closed. The AMMPS website confirms Baraclude’s withdrawal from the market in both 0.5 mg and 1 mg versions.
Several pharmacists confirmed that Opavir, the only generic alternative available in Morocco, has also been out of stock for several months, raising concerns about treatment options for chronic hepatitis B patients.
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