Morocco Moves to Lower Medicine Costs, Expand Local Production

Morocco World

7 days ago

Rabat — Morocco's Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tahraoui, on Monday presented to the House of Representatives an ambitious reform plan to overhaul the pricing system of medicines.
The initiative forms part of the royal project to expand social protection and aims to improve access to affordable healthcare while strengthening Morocco's pharmaceutical sovereignty.
Speaking during a question session at the lower house of parliament, Tahraoui outlined the key pillars of the reform, which include a structural revision of Morocco's pharmaceutical policy, expansion of local production, and modernization of supply chains.
He stressed that the new pricing model seeks to ensure fairness in access to treatments, support citizens' purchasing power, and maintain the quality and availability of medicines at reasonable costs.
The reform is anchored in the framework law 06.22 on the national health system, which establishes a policy guaranteeing the availability, quality, and affordability of health products.
Tahraoui noted that drug expenditures continue to weigh heavily on both Moroccan households and public finances, particularly as the mandatory health coverage program has expanded. Between 2022 and 2024, reimbursements for medicines alone rose by 31%, he said.
Recognizing these pressures, the government has made revising medicine pricing a strategic priority, balancing social and economic considerations. Over 30 consultation meetings have been held with key stakeholders — including pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacists, and insurers — to reach a consensus on a draft decree. Now in its final stages, the draft is expected to be submitted to the Government Council soon.
According to the minister, the proposed model introduces several key measures: shortening the timelines for price reviews, phasing in the changes to preserve market stability, maintaining low prices for essential medicines, and encouraging domestic production.
Beyond pricing, the ministry is also launching a series of institutional and technological initiatives to modernize the sector. Tahraoui announced the establishment of the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products, created under law 10.22, which will oversee implementation of the reforms.
The agency will also spearhead a digital transformation program, including digitized procedures, the use of artificial intelligence to assess clinical trials, and an integrated electronic platform for monitoring and management.
Additionally, a national drug observatory will be set up to monitor prices, anticipate supply shortages, and analyze market trends.
To address inefficiencies in the public health supply chain , which has an annual budget of 3.6 billion dirhams, the ministry plans to roll out a unified national logistics platform. This system is designed to reduce waste caused by stockouts and expired medicines and is expected to be deployed gradually over the next 18 months.
On the vaccination front, Tahraoui highlighted progress on the 'Marbio' project in Benslimane, which aims to meet 100% of the country's vaccine needs by 2027. Contracts have already been signed to supply three key vaccines — pneumococcal, meningococcal, and hexavalent — with over MAD 1 billion allocated to producing 5.4 million doses between 2025 and 2026. The first batch of locally manufactured vaccines is anticipated before the end of 2025.
This comprehensive reform package shed light on Morocco's commitment to making healthcare more affordable and accessible while fostering a resilient, self-sufficient pharmaceutical sector in line with national development goals. Tags: medicinces pricesmedicines in Moroccopharmaceutical regulation