PDG70 KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF MOROCCAN COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS TOWARDS THE THIRD-PARTY PAYER SYSTEM

Abstract

The third-party payer system (TPPS) in pharmacy is officially launched in Morocco in July 2012. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the TPPS, to have an idea about its feasibility, acceptability by community pharmacists as well as its advantages and disadvantages. It’s an observational study conducted between January and June 2017 in several cities in Morocco. A questionnaire survey of 28 items was used. A convenience sampling was done. Data collection was made in electronic form and on paper. A total of 108 pharmacists were interviewed. 97% of pharmacists were aware of TPPS. However, only a third using it, the pharmacists interested are those who have a long experience (more than 10 years). Among those who are using it, more than the half process less than one prescription per trimester, About a quarter process more than 6 prescriptions per month. Only two-thirds have their National Professional ID (INP). Less than 5% have left the convention. Repayment is usually done in less than 2 months. The procedures are cumbersome and time consuming, they are more complicated when it comes to the CNOPS (national fund of social security organizations). 85% refuse to dispense the T4 bracket beyond 832 USD (public selling price), because it is below the break-even point. As benefits, community pharmacists say this system serves patients (61.5%), and contribute to recovering the pharmaceutical monopoly (24.6%). As disadvantages, pharmacists believe that their profit margin on these products is poor and not proportional to taxation. In addition, these drugs are too expensive and few pharmacies can acquire them. The TPPS is known but not widely used nor accepted by pharmacists. Improvements to the convention could certainly encourage their accession.