The Confederation of Pharmacists' Unions of Morocco has called for a mass demonstration on Tuesday, September 9, at 12:00 p.m. in front of the Ministry of Health in Rabat. The protest responds to a new draft decree on drug pricing, which pharmacists argue threatens the economic survival of pharmacies nationwide. In a statement released Wednesday, the union warned that the reform «will undermine the financial stability of all pharmacies without exception, potentially leading to thousands of closures». It denounced the absence of support measures or parallel reforms, noting that pharmacists continue to shoulder «growing social and fiscal costs» while providing daily services to citizens. The communiqué also criticized outdated laws that «criminalize ordinary professional practices» and condemned the Ministry's «failure to curb monopolistic practices, illegal drug sales, and recurring shortages». «Attending this demonstration is both a professional and ethical duty», said union president Dr. Mohamed Lahbabi, stressing that Moroccan pharmacists are determined «to save our pharmacies and preserve the dignity of our profession». It should be noted that in July, Health Minister Amine Tahraoui presented to parliament a reform plan to overhaul the country's drug pricing system. The newly unveiled draft decree seeks to amend the 2013 Drug Pricing Decree by introducing more frequent price reviews, linking generic prices to originator drugs, adjusting manufacturers' profit margins, and capping the number of generics per product.
