Pharmacists divided over alleged collusion between doctors and drug companies

Accusations of collusion between doctors and pharmaceutical companies have stirred controversy in Morocco’s health sector, dividing pharmacists and sparking strong reactions.

The storm began when Mohamed Hababi, head of the Confederation of Pharmacists’ Unions, claimed that some doctors were striking direct deals with drug companies. 

According to Hababi, companies offer doctors money to prescribe certain medicines, sidelining pharmacists’ right to substitute medications when the prescribed drug is unavailable.

But the National Union of Pharmacists was quick to reject the allegations. In a statement issued Saturday night, the union distanced itself from Hababi’s remarks, saying they could be seen as offensive and harmful. 

The union apologized to doctors, pharmacists, academics, and health partners, saying that each professional organization speaks only for its own members and not for all pharmacists nationwide.

The dispute is also playing out on the protest front. While the Confederation has called for pharmacists to wear black armbands and stage a sit-in at the Health Ministry on September 9, the National Union announced it will not join the demonstrations. 

Instead, the national union reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue with the Health Ministry, describing recent talks with the minister as constructive and promising.

The tension escalated further when the National Syndicate of Specialist Doctors in the private sector demanded Hababi present evidence to back his accusations. 

The founding president of the Syndicate, Saad Akoumi, said such claims cannot be left hanging without proof. “Even if it concerns a single doctor, evidence must be shown. Otherwise, these are irresponsible statements that will end up in court,” Akoumi warned.

For now, Morocco’s pharmacists’ community appears split, with one camp pushing for confrontation and another betting on negotiations. 

The unrest in Morocco’s pharmacy sector began brewing as alarm over soaring medication prices grew louder, many medicines in Morocco cost up to four times more than in neighboring countries or in parts of Europe. 

A 2022 audit revealed profit margins on some drugs reaching a staggering 57%, while VAT on meds hit 7%, higher than in France (2.1%) or Portugal (5%) . 

These inflated costs, especially for chronic-disease treatments, hit patients hard and sparked demands for urgent reform, eventually triggering pharmacists to take to the streets.