Pharmacists’ unions in Morocco are stepping up their opposition to a controversial recommendation by the Competition Council to open pharmacy ownership to outside capital, warning the move could undermine small businesses and patient care.
Ahead of a planned news conference by the Competition Council on the matter, several professional bodies issued a joint statement rejecting the proposal. The signatories included the National Union of Private Sector Doctors, dentists’ unions and the Confederation of Pharmacists’ Unions of Morocco.
Said Afif, head of the National Union of Private Specialist Doctors, said opening the sector to what he described as “fierce competition” would ultimately harm low- and middle-income citizens.
He argued, in a statement to Hespress AR, that maintaining the current model in which independently owned pharmacies operate across the country “is essential.”
Allowing large pharmacy chains, he said, would push small neighborhood pharmacies out of business, drawing a comparison to large supermarket chains replacing local grocery stores.
Afif also raised concerns about broader private investment in the health sector, warning that large capital investors could prioritize profit over medical ethics by encouraging unnecessary tests and procedures. He said he does not oppose fair competition but called for strict legal safeguards to ensure patient welfare remains the top priority.
Amin Bouzoubâa, secretary-general of the Confederation of Pharmacists’ Unions of Morocco, said the Competition Council’s upcoming news conference would be technical in nature and unlikely to introduce new elements. He criticized what he described as a lack of consultation, saying union representatives were excluded from a recent meeting despite prior agreement to hold a joint discussion.
Bouzoubâa reiterated in a statement to Hespress AR the confederation’s firm rejection of the proposal to open pharmacy capital, calling it “unethical” and detrimental to public health, arguing it would benefit a limited group of investors at the expense of service quality.
He added that there are currently no dialogue channels with the Competition Council and accused it of adopting an exclusionary approach that has deepened tensions with professional representatives.
The confederation has begun preparations for a nationwide strike in coordination with affiliated unions and associations, Bouzoubâa said, in response to what he described as the authorities’ disregard for the sector’s concerns.
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