Moroccan Health Ministry Probes Alleged Patient Data Trafficking Ring

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the police services, has carried out in-depth investigations, in order to dismantle the network of doctors and biological analysis laboratories, suspected of violating the code of ethics of the profession, by disclosing personal information of their patients.

The daily Assabah reports that pharmaceutical laboratories, through their medical representatives, hand over information sheets to certain practitioners, for a fee of 200 to 300 dirhams per sheet, in order to have a database of sick patients, and to contact them personally to ensure the purchase of their treatment.

The same process is used by industry players, this time with medical analysis laboratories, which transmit the personal data of their patients, in exchange for analysis techniques for hepatitis screening (Elisa test).

The repeated complaints of patients and their families, who are apparently harassed by the insistent calls from pharmaceutical laboratories, have alerted consumer protection associations, who have finally filed a complaint with the Ministry of Health.