On April 23, the ministry issued a press release after the Al Akhbar news outlet wrote allegations of a Moroccan export ban.
In addition, the news outlet claimed Morocco does not have a plan to end the coronavirus pandemic.
The ministry said it has been monitoring the export of medicines and health equipment like any other country to avoid exporting essential medicines with stocks lower than applicable laws.
The statement stressed the ministry’s strategy of monitoring how well personnel are keeping reserve stocks of all essential medicines on a daily basis by the National Observatory of Medicines and Health Products to be able to immediately intervene in the event of any problem.
The ministry explained their monitoring is taking into account chloroquine as a medicine used to treat coronavirus.
The Directorate of Medicines and Pharmacy, added the statement, digitized the administrative process for exporters applying for licenses to export medicines.
Exporters can now use the directorate’s electronic portal.
Applicants will no longer have to go to the directorate’s facility in Rabat in order to deliver their applications.
The measure seeks to simplify the strategic process in full agreement with the Board of Pharmacists and Distributors, the official representative of all industrial pharmacists and distributors.
The statement clarified that the health ministry was in contact with the Moroccan Association for the Pharmaceutical Industry before the publication of the disputed article, confirming all health sector partners are cooperating to study export proposals, and theya “will take all necessary measures and prepare for a new stage, if necessary, in order to protect the country and the health of citizens.â€
The ministry also condemned accusations that Morocco does not have an action plan for COVID-19, stating that the government has been working on preventive measures to contain the virus since its outbreak in China.
The Ministry of Health called on citizens not to promote false news due to the negative impact that can have.
The Moroccan government has been receiving applause for its strategy against the COVID-19 pandemic since the country was among the first states to suspend all international flights and to impose a lockdown, which started on March 20. ■