Morocco has approved three strengths of the ADHD medicine Concerta for regular sale, marking a shift away from exceptional imports, although pharmacy availability still depends on completing mandatory pricing procedures.
The Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products said it had granted marketing authorisations for Concerta 18 mg, 36 mg and 54 mg, all of which contain methylphenidate, a controlled substance used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults.
The 36 mg and 54 mg versions have completed the public pricing process and are awaiting publication of the relevant decisions in the Official Gazette. The 18 mg version remains under price review.
The agency stressed that marketing approval does not automatically mean the medicine can immediately be sold in pharmacies. Moroccan law requires the public sale price to be formally approved before commercial distribution can begin.
The decision follows criticism from the Moroccan Observatory for Inclusive Education, whose national ADHD committee said patients still faced difficulty accessing Ritalin and Concerta a year after authorities pledged to accelerate their legal approval.
The agency said previous shortages were not caused by delays in regulatory reviews, but by the absence of marketing applications from pharmaceutical companies and the strict conditions governing methylphenidate’s manufacture, import, distribution and monitoring.
It said the registration files were handled under an expedited procedure while maintaining scientific and regulatory requirements.
Until the pricing process is completed and the medicines enter regular distribution, exceptional imports will continue for patients whose treatment cannot be interrupted.
Under Article 7 of Morocco’s medicines and pharmacy law, the agency may authorise imports of medicines not yet marketed domestically when there is a documented medical need.
Requests are examined individually and urgently and may be submitted by patients, guardians or pharmaceutical companies assisting with the import process.
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