THE STATE OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO

Abstract

Abstract. IThe purpose of the article was to study the main characteristics of the pharmaceutical industry in Morocco. As materials were studied the official websites of pharmaceutical manufacturers in Morocco, policy documents of industrial pharmaceutical associations, specialized pharmaceutical press of Morocco, educational resources of Morocco and France. As a result, it was found that the pharmaceutical industries of Morocco and Russia are already interacting with each other: BIOCAD supplies high-tech drugs and production technologies to Morocco, Morocco has placed an order with R-Pharm for the purchase of a vaccine against COVID-19, produced under the license of AstraZeneca, and also ordered a million doses of Sputnik V vaccine. Morocco is one of the fastest growing countries in the Middle East and Africa with an economy of $119 billion, a population of 37 million,andtotalhealthspendingof5.5%ofGDP.Expendituresforhealthcarearequitehigh-53.6%oftotalfamilyexpenditures. 31.7% of total health care expenditure is spent on drug purchases. The pharmaceutical industry in Morocco began to develop in 1960 after the end of the French protector and the introduction of the obligation to localize drugs sold in Morocco by foreign pharmaceutical companies. The pharmaceutical industry in Morocco is represented by 51 factories, which cover 2/3 of the country’s drug needs. Mostly generics are produced, 10% of production is exported. The volume of the issue is $1.68 billion (2nd place in Africa). The products are of high quality and certified according to European standards. Morocco is endeavoring to transform its pharmaceutical industry into a strategic asset for influencing African countries through the creation of an «African House of Medicines» based in Morocco, which is the manufacturing and logistics center for medicines in Africa. The main documents regulating the pharmaceutical industry are: Law No. 17-04 of 2006. “Code of Medicines and Pharmacy” and Order of the Minister of Health No. 902-08 5654 of 2008. “Requirements for the premises of pharmaceutical organizations.” Thus, we conclude that the Kingdom is a regional leader with ambitious plans and a large backlog that needs new technologies, markets for pharmaceutical products, a large number of qualified personnel, high-tech drugs at affordable prices. The intensification of cooperation between Russia and Morocco will help both countries to gain a foothold in the rapidly growing pharmaceutical market in Africa.