Significant Revisions to Morocco's Drug Pricing System
Khalid Al-Zouain, the President of the National Council of the National Union of Pharmacists of Morocco, has hailed the introduction of the amended government decree related to the pricing of locally manufactured and imported medications as a pivotal development in the country's drug pricing framework. This decree, which updates the original decree number 2.13.852, incorporates more precise regulations for calculating medication prices, thereby promising a more transparent and equitable pricing system.
In an interview with the website "Today 24," Al-Zouain emphasized that providing manufacturers with a one-year grace period between the publication of the decree and its implementation is a positive step. This timeframe allows stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector adequate time to prepare for the new regulations, whether by managing inventory or adjusting production and distribution processes. He noted that the gradual reduction in drug prices was a demand previously voiced by manufacturers and industry professionals alike, reflecting a collective desire for a more sustainable pricing model.
Gradual Impact on Drug Prices and Consumer Benefits
Regarding the reduction of drug prices, Al-Zouain highlighted that the new decree entails crucial revisions to provisions concerning imported drugs, particularly by decreasing the additional percentage that was previously calculated. According to him, this adjustment is expected to influence the final price of medications, particularly considering the relationship between selling prices, distributor margins, and pharmacists' profits. However, he cautioned that the effects of these changes would not be immediately apparent in the market. The first noticeable decreases in drug prices may only emerge several months after the decree takes effect, with more pronounced results anticipated at the beginning of 2027.
Furthermore, Al-Zouain addressed the issue of high-priced medications, suggesting that establishing a minimum price based on similar drugs in reference countries could help lower the costs of expensive medications. This strategy aims to enhance citizens' access to affordable healthcare solutions. He also expressed support for the new provisions related to generic and biosimilar medications, asserting that linking their prices to original drugs and setting minimum price differentials represents a significant advancement in promoting the use of generic drugs in Morocco. By implementing more precise ratios based on the original drug's price, the pricing calculation for generics could become clearer, with certain biosimilar drugs seeing reductions of up to 50%.
In terms of adopting new calculation tables for determining prices based on changes in packaging size or dosage, Al-Zouain believes these regulations could mitigate practices that lead to disproportionate price increases relative to the number of units in a package. He provided an example where the price of a package rises excessively compared to the increase in the number of pills, arguing that producing larger quantities should ideally result in manufacturing cost savings, which should also reflect in lower consumer prices.
Al-Zouain concluded that the new provisions inherently promote a sense of fairness in drug pricing by regulating how prices are determined, linking them more closely to costs, volume, and reference pricing. This approach aims to make medications more accessible to the public and enhance overall healthcare affordability in Morocco.
As reported by alyaoum24.com.
