Morocco’s Pharmaceutical Exports Grow 7%, Reaching 10% of National Production

The total turnover of exports in 2018 reached 1.245 billion dirhams, representing a growth of 7.1% compared to 2017. This seemingly low pace, according to Layla Sentissi, executive director of the Moroccan Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (AMIP), represents a shortfall almost equal to the turnover achieved. Exports represent 10% of the total national production, which reached 430 million units in 2018. A percentage that is not about to increase, even if the sector already has an unused production margin estimated at 40%, reports La Vi éco.

Despite the efforts made by Maroc Export and the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), operators deplore the lack of state support. "This remains timid as support," comments the executive director of AMIP. Ali Sedrati, president of AMIP, confirms this observation. "The support measures provided for in the national acceleration plan signed in 2013, especially with regard to the registration of medicines, the improvement of the price-setting procedure or the incentives in terms of investment, simply have not been taken," he points out.

According to him, ensuring the development of the domestic market is just as important as working to develop exports. But the annual consumption per capita does not exceed 430 DH, unlike the countries of the region such as Algeria or Tunisia, where it reaches 80 and 70 dollars respectively. The advantage in "these two countries is that social coverage and health insurance are practically total, while they do not even cover 50% of the population with us. Purchasing power also remains very low in Morocco," says Ali Sedrati. In addition, law 17-04 restricts exports to medicines marketed in the national territory.

Operators are awaiting subsidies from the State or the establishment of the African Medicines Agency in order to harmonize regulations at the continental level. Morocco has, according to experts, favorable conditions that could allow it not only to manufacture generics, but also products on behalf of multinationals, a large part of which is based in Europe, the same source specifies.