Research and Markets: Morocco Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report - The Updated Q4 2009 Edition

DUBLIN-(Business Wire)-September 28, 2009 - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/16cc0f/morocco_pharmaceut) has announced the addition of the "Morocco Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report Q4 2009" report to their offering.

This Morocco Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report provides industry professionals and strategists, corporate analysts, pharmaceutical associations, government departments and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on Morocco's pharmaceuticals and healthcare industry

The publisher expects the drug market in Morocco to increase in value from US$1.38bn in 2008 to US$1.88bn in 2013, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% in US dollar terms. The strong development of the sector is linked to an expanding economy and a growing middle class, both of which will underpin increased drug spending. The global financial crisis has not hit Morocco with the same force experienced in other countries in the world, which bodes well for pharmaceutical sector, while stable levels of inflation mean that real growth rates will be over 7% in both 2008 and 2009. The main risk to this scenario revolves around whether current levels of health expenditure are sustainable. With life expectancy growing in Morocco, the number of elderly people dependent on social security is increasing and could reach 5.8mn by 2030. Meanwhile, high drug prices and a lack of generic penetration are having an inflationary impact on health spending. However, BMI believes that while the economy continues to expand rapidly, many of these problems will remain in the background. Despite the global economic downturn, Morocco's High Planning Commission (HCP) has said that the country is likely to register economic growth of 5.3% in 2009. Although the publisher feels these figures for economic growth are quite optimistic, BMI maintains a positive forecast of 2.4% real GDP growth in Morocco in 2009.

The main health concern in Morocco in Q409, as in much of the world at the moment, is the threat of the swine flu pandemic. As a result, the government has been aggressively investing in its bio-defence capabilities. As reported by MAP, Morocco has allocated MAD852mn (US$107.5mn) to combat the threat of swine flu. Out of this total MAD582mn (US$73.4mn) has been put aside to purchase 4mn doses of Swiss drugmaker Roche's anti-flu medicne Tamiflu (oseltamivir), which is used to treated the H1N1virus. Meanwhile, MAD20mn (US$2.52mn) is to be used to purchase protective masks. According to latest estimates, there have been 35 cases of swine flu in Morocco, of which 28 people have been released. Governments in the Maghreb region have responded in differing ways to the threat of the pandemic. Algeria has created a special crisis unit comprising of experts from the health, defence, interior and transport ministries in order to monitor cases of swine flu. All passengers arriving from countries where the condition has been reported are receiving special treatment in order to prevent the pathogen spreading. In addition millions of respiratory masks have been distributed to doctors and border agents.

Meanwhile, in Morocco the emphasis has been placed on undertaking clinical and biological checks at all entry points, which has included fever detection kits at international airports. According to Health Minister Yasmina Baddou, sufficient quantities of vaccine are at hand while ambulances have been placed on-call to treat any breakouts.

In BMI's Business Environment Rankings for the Middle East and North Africa Region, Morocco remains in 12th place as despite the strong growth potential in its drug market, per-capita spending remains low at just US$43.7 in 2008.

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