فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Amin Tihraoui, Minister of Health and Social Protection, announced on Monday at the Parliament that the ministry, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, has reached a consensual draft decree aimed at achieving a significant reduction in medicine prices while balancing consumer protection with the encouragement of local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Responding to a question on drug policy, the minister explained that this initiative was developed through a broad participatory approach involving over 30 meetings with key actors including industrial federations, pharmacists’ associations, and insurance funds. The new model introduces innovative principles such as shortening the price review periods, gradually implementing reforms to ensure stability, maintaining affordability of low-cost medicines, and promoting domestic production.
Tihraoui noted that the draft decree has reached its final stage and will soon be submitted to the government for approval. He emphasized that this approach differs fundamentally from previous attempts by its comprehensive legal, technical, economic, and social framework.
He stressed that the government regards reforming the drug pricing system as a sovereign and responsible choice, going beyond technical aspects to encompass deep social and economic dimensions. The goals include enhancing citizens’ purchasing power, ensuring equitable access to medicines, and stimulating national investment in this strategic sector.
Regarding supply chain improvements, the minister revealed plans to establish a unified national logistics platform for supplying public health institutions with medicines and medical supplies. This platform will cater to the needs of regional health clusters and reduce losses caused by stockouts and drug expiration, which currently amount to an estimated annual loss of 3.6 billion MAD. The rollout of this system is scheduled to be gradual over the next 18 months.
On vaccine sovereignty, Tihraoui indicated that supply contracts have been signed with the company “Marbio” (Benslimane) for three major vaccines covering pneumococcus, meningitis, and the hexavalent vaccine, supported by a budget exceeding one billion MAD to secure 5.4 million doses for 2025 and 2026.
He added that a dedicated scientific committee has been established to update the national vaccination schedule and approve the first locally produced vaccines. Production has already begun, with the first batches expected to be supplied to the health system before the end of 2025.
The minister concluded by affirming that this reform “not only addresses temporary imbalances but lays the foundation for a new national pharmaceutical and vaccine model based on sovereignty, transparency, local manufacturing, and equitable distribution, within a strategic vision that places citizens’ health and dignity at its core.”
