Rabat – Good news: Morocco’s Ministry of Health has announced major cuts on the price of 319 medicines for several chronic diseases, including blood derivatives, antibiotics, and treatments for anemia, hemorrhaging, epilepsy, and rheumatoid arthritis.
According to the ministry, the approach is in line with the implementation of the national medicines policy to facilitate citizens’ access to medicines and reduce the burden of medical coverage expenses.
The ministry’s decision comes under the provisions of the 2019 Finance Bill on the exemption of Value Added Tax or TVA for medicines that cost more than MAD 588.
The ministry also expressed determination to continue the implementation of the policy to “promote equitable access to quality treatments at fair prices.”
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In the finance bill, the Moroccan government allocated more than MAD 16.3 billion to the health sector, up 1.6 billion from the 2018 bill.
The increased spending on the health sector follows King Mohammed VI’s instructions to prioritize education and health.
The government promised to improve public access to health services and to restructure support and social protection policies.
The government also approved a number of provisions in the bill related to value added taxes.
According to the Pharma World magazine, Morocco is a key player in the pharmaceutical market due to its “stable political framework” and its strategic location on the Mediterranean.
Speaking on Morocco’s medicine policy, the magazine referred to a Business Monitor International study which said that the government “planned actions to reduce retail mark-ups and VAT for chronic illness medicines and to improve the medicine supply chains, increase the number of qualified staff and facilities and promote the rational prescription of medicines … Plans are also ongoing to eradicate the Hepatitis C Virus by 2030.”
