Morocco Strengthens Transparency in Public Pharmaceutical Procurement
Morocco Enhances Transparency in Public Drug Procurement
On Wednesday, Health and Social Protection Minister Amine Tahraoui stated in the House of Representatives that the procurement of drugs is carried out exclusively within the legal framework governing public markets. He emphasized that all operations are conducted with companies under commercial law, adhering to transparency, fair competition, and equal opportunity requirements.
Speaking before the Social Sectors Committee, the minister stressed that drug purchases are based on neither individual decisions nor personal assessments. They are strictly regulated by the decree concerning public procurement, which outlines procedures, eligibility criteria, and transparency obligations.
He reminded that each contract undergoes rigorous scrutiny by the competent services of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and is systematically published on the national public procurement portal, thus ensuring equitable access for all operators.
The Case of Potassium: A Strict and Transparent Tender
Addressing the information circulated regarding a supposed conflict of interest, the minister clarified that the contract for procuring potassium chloride was awarded to a local producer through a strict tender process, not to an importing company with merely a temporary permit.
He reiterated that public contracts can never be awarded to individuals but only to commercial companies, reaffirming the strict application of current regulations, without exception or differentiated treatment.
AMMPS at the Heart of Pharmaceutical Regulation
Regarding the management of drug authorizations, the minister highlighted that this responsibility falls to the Moroccan Agency for Medicine and Health Products (AMMPS), established to correct persistent dysfunctions and enhance medication safety.
AMMPS Director Samir Ahid detailed the challenges faced by the holder of the potassium chloride permit: temporary production stops, industrial upgrading works, and prolonged technical exchanges with regulatory authorities.
Given the vital importance of this medication, particularly in emergency care and cardiology, AMMPS has implemented enhanced technical support. This support includes, if necessary, activating the exceptional import authorization, maintaining ongoing coordination with production units, and accelerating the review processes for market authorizations.
Exceptional Imports: A Controlled Mechanism
AMMPS observed a significant rise in exceptional import authorizations in 2024, due to tensions in international markets. However, thanks to corrective measures—improved monitoring of national stock, increased coordination with manufacturers, strict application of safety stock, and expedited registrations—a decrease was recorded in 2025.
These efforts have helped prevent shortages of essential medications in cardiac emergencies and ensured the continuity of treatment for patients.
Parliamentary Debate: Safety, Prices, and Pharmaceutical Sovereignty
Members of the majority praised the establishment of AMMPS, seen as a key lever to tackle the challenges facing the sector, including supply security, quality control, and market surveillance.
They also addressed issues related to the high prices of certain medications and the decline in industrial self-sufficiency.
In contrast, some opposition groups criticized the management of drug procurement markets and proposed the formation of an inquiry commission on this issue. They emphasized the need to strengthen the national pharmaceutical industry to consolidate the country’s medicinal sovereignty.
