Pharmacists in Morocco: Driss Benhima Leads Strategic Response to the Recommendations of the Competition Council
Moroccan Pharmacists Continue to Apply Pressure Amid Reform Proposals
The mobilization of pharmacists in Morocco continues in a climate marked by debates surrounding the opening of shares in pharmacies and the recommendations of the Competition Council. Despite reassurances from Health and Social Protection Minister Amine Tahraoui before Parliament stating that no reform would be initiated without consultation with the relevant professionals, the profession remains cautious and attentive to the developments on this issue.
Pharmacists are particularly concerned that certain proposed directions could undermine the balance of the Moroccan pharmaceutical sector and jeopardize the independence of pharmacies, which are viewed as a cornerstone of the drug distribution system in Morocco.
A Sit-in of 5,000 Pharmacists Against the Recommendations of the Competition Council
Tensions surrounding this issue were highlighted during the sit-in organized on April 9 in front of the Competition Council’s headquarters in Rabat. Nearly 5,000 pharmacists from various regions of the Kingdom gathered to express their opposition to the reforms deemed sensitive for the future of the profession.
This display of strength reflects the determination of Moroccan pharmacists to defend the national pharmacy model and actively participate in discussions regarding the reform of the pharmaceutical sector.
Driss Benhima Tasked with a Strategic Study to Defend the Pharmaceutical Sector
In this context, representative organizations of pharmacists have decided to strengthen their institutional response by engaging Driss Benhima and the Linkers Advocacy firm to conduct a strategic study aimed at structuring a reasoned response to the recommendations of the Competition Council.
The contract signing was officially held on Friday, May 8, between the president of the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists, Dr. Hamza Guedira, and Driss Benhima. This mission marks a new phase in the strategy adopted by the profession to defend its positions with public decision-makers.
According to Mohamed Lahbabi, president of the Confederation of Pharmacists’ Unions of Morocco, this approach aims to preserve the independence of pharmacists, the sustainability of pharmacies, and the balance of the national pharmaceutical system.
Pharmaceutical Sector Reform: Several Sensitive Issues at the Core of Discussions
In a statement released on Saturday, the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists clarified that this mission will focus on several major projects impacting the Moroccan pharmaceutical sector. Key topics include the revision of the drug pricing decree, the generalization of health coverage, the A/6/25 opinion from the Competition Council regarding drug distribution, discussions on the opening of pharmacy capital, and the implementation of law 98.18.
The Order of Pharmacists emphasizes the “constructive and propositional” nature of this initiative, asserting that the aim is to provide expertise rooted in ground realities and the experience of the approximately 14,000 pharmacists practicing in Morocco.
Preserving Access to Medicines and the Viability of Pharmacies in Morocco
Driss Benhima’s mission is based on several strategic objectives, including the creation of a solid documentation dossier based on factual analyses and international comparisons, the identification of dialogue levers with institutions, and the support of profession representatives in their exchanges with various stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector.
Moroccan pharmacists are also emphasizing the need to maintain several essential balances, including the accessibility of medicines for citizens, the economic viability of the pharmacy network, the preservation of balanced competition, and the modernization of pharmaceutical governance in Morocco.
