Health Minister Tahraoui rejects accusations over potassium chloride deal

Health Minister Amine Tahraoui on Wednesday rejected allegations of irregularities in a deal to supply the market with potassium chloride (KCI), urging critics to provide proof of any wrongdoing.

Speaking before the House of Representatives’ Social Sectors Committee, which convened to examine claims of conflicts of interest in pharmaceutical procurement, Tahraoui said ministry tenders are conducted transparently and in full compliance with the law.

“Anyone who has even a single piece of evidence proving that the administration did not follow the law should present it,” he said. “If someone has a document, correspondence, or witness to support their allegations, let them present it. Accusations must be backed by evidence.”

Tahraoui said public procurement decisions involve an entire institutional system, not any single official. He added that he would not tolerate violations or irregularities.

He also pointed to Morocco’s oversight bodies, including the Court of Auditors, the Competition Council, and the National Authority for Integrity and Anti-Corruption, saying that claims of scandals or unlawful contracts “undermine not only the ministry but also the credibility of these institutions.”

Addressing questions over temporary authorizations, Tahraoui said such permits are not contracts or privileges but legal tools used during shortages or potential supply disruptions. Companies with marketing authorizations always maintain priority, and temporary permits are canceled if those companies participate, he said.

On potassium chloride, Tahraoui said Morocco had only one local supplier, which was undergoing technical upgrades requiring its license to be reassessed. The ministry and national agency followed the renewal process, but the company failed to meet required criteria.

He said he received an official alert about a possible shortage of a critical medical product and subsequently contacted the head of the national agency to accelerate procedures. The ministry then asked the company to make further improvements, while another local producer stepped in and received support to prevent the shortage.

Tahraoui emphasized that his role in authorization processes is limited to ensuring the availability of medicine on the market, adding that he receives regular reports on licensing progress and potential disruptions.

He said several reforms are underway to strengthen oversight and improve governance within the pharmaceutical sector.

The minister noted that the company at the center of the controversy has been operating in Morocco for more than a decade among over 50 producers, and does not dominate the market.

He added that all 2024–25 hospital contracts were awarded through transparent tenders favoring local production, and a second company is expected to begin producing KCI soon to increase competition and reinforce pharmaceutical sovereignty.