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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [HEALTH]

2 clusters · 10 sources · 3 days · First seen 7 days ago · Last updated 4 days ago

Morocco pharmaceutical price reform and pharmacy opposition

Overview

Morocco has approved a reform to its drug pricing mechanism, resulting in price reductions for nearly 300 medicines. These cuts are expected to range from 10% to 70%.

The new regulatory framework, introduced via decree, replaces the system used since 2013. Key changes include increasing the frequency of price reviews from every five years to every three years. The pricing methodology has also been updated: for medications with a manufacturer price exceeding 300 dirhams, the lowest observed price in reference countries will be applied, while the average of reference prices will be used for those at or below that threshold.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection estimates the reform could generate over one billion dirhams in total savings. Approximately 250 million dirhams are expected to directly benefit patients by reducing out-of-pocket expenses, particularly for those with chronic conditions.

However, the implementation has met opposition from the MPharma association. During an international conference in Rabat, association CEO Dr. Hasnaa Mamoun warned that the decree was issued “without consulting professional representatives” and could lead thousands of independent pharmacies toward “financial instability or bankruptcy.”

In response to shrinking profit margins, pharmacists are advocating for a new economic model. They are calling for expanded professional roles, such as managing vaccinations and rapid testing, to ensure the sustainability of the profession while opposing proposals that would allow pharmacy capital to be liberalized for investment chains.

Entities

Ministry of Health and Social Protection · MPharma · Morocco · Mohammed VI Foundation for the Promotion of Social Works of Education and Trunc · Hasnaa Mamoun

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The new decree on drug pricing was issued without considering proposals from profession representatives. aljarida24.ma · al3omk.com · hnews.ma
[● 3 SOURCES] Pharmacists advocate for a new economic model that does not rely solely on drug profit margins. aljarida24.ma · al3omk.com · hnews.ma
[● 3 SOURCES] Proposed expanded duties for pharmacists include managing chronic disease patients, vaccinations, and rapid testing. aljarida24.ma · al3omk.com · hnews.ma
[● 3 SOURCES] Pharmacists reject efforts to liberalize pharmacy capital and allow investment chains to enter the sector. aljarida24.ma · al3omk.com · hnews.ma
[○ 1 SOURCE] Price reductions target drugs that do not represent a significant cost to citizens or health insurance funds. aljarida24.ma
[○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 150 specific drugs account for 57 percent of total drug expenditures by health insurance funds. aljarida24.ma

Timeline

4 days ago

[HEALTH] 6 sources
Morocco implements drug price cuts amid pharmacy sector concerns
Morocco is set to reduce prices for nearly 300 medicines by 10% to 70%, sparking warnings from pharmacists that the new pricing decree threatens the financial stability of independent pharmacies.
7 days ago

[HEALTH] 4 sources
Morocco approves price cuts for nearly 300 medicines
Morocco has approved price reductions of 10% to 70% for nearly 300 medicines as part of a new regulatory framework designed to improve healthcare access and manage insurance costs.

Sources

al3omk.com · aljarida24.ma · bienpublic.com · casaoui.ma · consonews.ma · hnews.ma · journaux.ma · lebrief.ma · ledauphine.com · maroc-actu.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history