Morocco Halts Pharmacy Sales of Unauthorized Covid-19 Saliva Tests

The Ministry of Health has decided to recall from pharmacies a batch of 100 Gigalab Covid-19 saliva tests. "The in vitro diagnostic reagent Gigalab covid-19 Ag Gold Salive from the Gigalab establishment", which "has been put on sale in pharmacies through wholesale pharmaceutical distributors, without authorization from the Ministry of Health".

While the reagent in question has indeed been registered by the ministry, the MA is not effective. It was the Syndicale Chamber of Biologists (CSB) that, on July 7, alerted the Ministry of Health to this practice which goes "against the regulations in force and in total contradiction with the law".

For Dr. Adnane Rhazali, president of the CSB, "pharmacists are not authorized to perform medical biology tests except those specified in the decree of the Ministry of Health No. 1131-13 relating to law 12-01." Moreover, "the Covid-19 rapid antigen saliva tests are not authorized in the private sector, where any examination carried out in the context of Covid is subject to prior ministerial authorization on the basis of a specification with RT-PCR as the only authorized examination". The doctor points out that "the company is about to market the Covid-19 rapid antigen saliva test directly to Moroccan companies via the CGEM". Which is contrary to the established standards.

After inspection and verification, the ministry has taken the decision that is appropriate in such circumstances. It should be remembered that the Gigalab saliva tests had started to be marketed in Casablanca last week. During a press webinar broadcast on June 3, Karim Zaher, founder and CEO of Gigalab, had insisted on the reliability and speed of this test which does not require special training and is affordable for everyone.

Some pharmacists suspect the biologists of wanting to actually snatch the monopoly on this type of test, which would facilitate access to health for all since their unit price does not exceed 100 dirhams.