Morocco’s Drug Price Cuts Spark Conflict Between Clinics and Pharmacists

The conflict between private clinics and pharmacists has resurfaced, after the decision of the Ministry of Health to lower the prices of 100 medicines. In this imbroglio, pharmacists strongly accuse clinics of unfair competition by delivering pharmaceutical products directly to customers. This does not correspond to reality, according to the National Association of Private Clinics, reports the daily Al Akhbar.

The president of the association, Dr. Redouane Semlali, announced in a statement that his organization had already invited pharmacists through correspondence to denounce the clinics that engage in these types of practices, in order to take strong measures. However, he regrets, this formula did not have the desired effect, as the pharmacists did not report this state of affairs.

For their part, the pharmacists, through their Federation, called on the supervisory ministry to react by implementing the pending agreement between the two parties. But the Minister of Health, Khalid Ait Taleb, supports the newspaper, did not act in favor of the pharmacists, by authorizing the delivery of medicines outside the conventional circuits.

Furthermore, pharmacists have warned against any decision likely to encourage laboratories to create a shortage of medicines whose prices have been reduced.