Annual per-capita drugs consumption in Morocco hardly exceeds $16

Annual per-capita drugs consumption in Morocco hardly exceeds 160 Dirhams ($ 16), due to a weak purchasing power, said head of the pharmacists union of southern Morocco.

In Morocco, drugs consumption ranks 2nd after food, he told MAP on the sidelines of an international conference on prospects of pharmaceutics industry in the 3rd Millennium hosted by Marrakesh Feb.3-6.

He added that Morocco's pharmaceutical industry, which covers 80% of local demand, is on top of arab countries.

Participants in the conference said it is necessary that Maghreban countries set up a common drug market to deal with the European Union and the World Trade Organization.

Some 600 European, African and arab pharmacists took part in the conference that meant to probe the role of pharmacists, chemistry industrialists, biologists, distribution companies, teachers and public health authorities in health prevention and awareness promotion.