Agadir 24 | Agadir24
The Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, Fawzi Lekjaa, acknowledged that the prices of a group of medicines in Morocco have risen by about 4 times compared to their counterparts in many regions around the world.
In his interaction with an amendment proposal by the parliamentary group for Justice and Development, Lakjaa explained that “the prices of medicine are linked to the purchasing power and to the sustainability and financial sustainability of the insurance and social protection funds.”
The same speaker highlighted that “the first premise of setting a specific tariff for customs duties for medicines as part of the draft finance law for 2025 is that “the medicine that we manufacture in Morocco must not be imported, but its price must be comparable to what is applicable globally,” while pointing out “The second principle is to protect medicines that are partly produced in Morocco, while they require light investments.”
According to the same minister, “The goal is for this industry not to benefit from a monopolistic situation in which prices do not meet expectations,” adding that “the medicine that Morocco will not produce during the next ten years, for example, we must allow to be imported so that there is competition in supply.”
It should be noted that the amendment proposal of the Justice and Development parliamentary group demanded that “all imported medicines that have a counterpart manufactured in Morocco in sufficient quantity be subject to customs duties at a rate of 40 percent,” justifying this by the necessity of “protecting the national industry since most of the medicines included in the requirements of this article are manufactured locally.” “This makes the adoption of this measure a threat to the national product, sovereignty and pharmaceutical security by encouraging imports at the expense of the national industry.”
The minister rejected the team’s proposal, considering that “the framing principles are those contained in the article,” while he justified the high prices of some medicines by saying that “there is a part of the activity carried out within the scope of import, under the guise of national production.”
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**Short Interview with Minister Delegate Fawzi Lekjaa on Rising Medicine Prices in Morocco**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Minister Lekjaa. Recently, you noted that the prices of certain medicines in Morocco have surged to about four times higher than similar products globally. Can you explain what factors are contributing to this significant increase?
**Fawzi Lekjaa:** Thank you for having me. The rising prices of medicines in Morocco are certainly concerning, and several factors play a role. Primarily, these prices are closely linked to the overall purchasing power of our population. We also have to consider the financial sustainability of our insurance and social protection funds, which impacts how medicines are priced and accessed.
**Interviewer:** That’s quite insightful. You mentioned the relationship between medicine prices and purchasing power. How does this dynamic affect the average Moroccan citizen?
**Fawzi Lekjaa:** Essentially, when purchasing power is low, it becomes challenging for citizens to afford necessary medications. This can lead to health disparities, where a significant part of the population might forgo essential treatment due to cost issues. Our government is committed to addressing these challenges, ensuring that essential medicines are both accessible and affordable.
**Interviewer:** The parliamentary group for Justice and Development proposed amendments to tackle this issue. What steps are being considered to manage medicine prices effectively?
**Fawzi Lekjaa:** We are actively engaging with various stakeholders, including the parliamentary group, to explore solutions. Possible measures include revisiting our pricing regulations, considering import options, and enhancing our local pharmaceutical production capabilities. We want to create a more balanced environment that protects public health while ensuring our insurance systems remain viable.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Minister Lekjaa. It’s evident that addressing the rising cost of medicines is a multi-faceted challenge, and we appreciate your efforts in this critical area.
**Fawzi Lekjaa:** Thank you. It’s a priority for us, and we will keep working towards solutions that benefit all Moroccans.
