DR ‹ › The president of Morocco's Competition Council, Ahmed Rahou, has warned of profound shifts underway in the pharmaceutical market, calling for a coherent overhaul of drug pricing and reimbursement mechanisms. He noted that the sector is no longer defined by a traditional supplier–consumer relationship. «A new actor is now fully involved in price setting: social health coverage, which ultimately bears the consequences», he said during the Council's annual media briefing on Tuesday. This evolution, he explained, requires better alignment between marketing authorizations, drug pricing, reimbursement schemes, and the related budgetary impact of medicines being listed. Rahou also announced that the legal framework governing the distribution of medicines, particularly through pharmacies and wholesalers, is in its final stages. The text has already been approved and is expected to enter into force by the end of the month, once formatting and translation are completed. While acknowledging that competition generally enhances efficiency and innovation, the Competition Council's president stressed that this logic has clear limits in the healthcare sector. «The worst thing for consumers is not high prices, but shortages», he said, pointing to the recurring supply disruptions affecting the market. In this context, the Council advocates prioritizing product availability over strict pricing considerations. It even calls for a shift in approach, urging authorities to actively encourage the introduction of medicines deemed essential for public health, «even if that means going out and finding them», to prevent shortages and ensure access to vital treatments.
