Vitamin C and Zinc Shortages Hit Moroccan Pharmacies Amid COVID-19 Surge

Chama Khalil, a pharmacist in the Hay Moulay Rachid district of Casablanca, interviewed by H24info, is worried. In a period as critical as this one, such important drugs cannot be out of stock. These drugs had become scarce since last March. "We are in the same situation as in September last year. For the past two weeks, there has been a shortage of Covid medicines, namely those based on azithromycin, vitamin C and zinc."

The shortage of these drugs is also explained by the fact that "people are stockpiling, and are even more self-medicating now, because they have had Covid cases in their family and know what to take." For the president of the Confederation of Pharmacists’ Unions of Morocco (CSPM), the shortage is real and could jeopardize the fight against the coronavirus. "Pharmacies are unable to supply themselves with zinc and vitamin C, even though they are part of the Covid-19 protocol," notes Mohamed Lahbabi, who specifies that we are talking about medicines and not dietary supplements.

Mohamed Lahbabi points out that the DMP (Directorate of Medicines and Pharmacy) must ensure that there is a safety stock. "We have no information, no contact with the DMP, which does not respond to our questions, while we are being questioned by citizens," the union leader insists.