With the spread of Covid-19, citizens, wanting to reassure themselves on the confirmation or not of the infection, have recourse to PCR and other tests in hospitals (free, finally …) and laboratories (paying) to do this. However, they find themselves confronted with the harsh reality of crowded public establishments and or lack of available tests, it is therefore natural that they will fall back to laboratories where they have to face the high price of PCR which varies. at the very least between 600 and 700 dhs and much more if affinity.
The (rapid) antigen test which detects whether the person is infected with the coronavirus at the time of the test is around 400 dirhams. Because of these prices, which some consider exorbitant, many Moroccans have launched a campaign on social networks. They denounce the failure of the State to provide these tests at an appropriate price to relieve the pressure on public hospitals and encourage citizens to carry out a “self-test” at home. Laboratory owners are particularly targeted with regard to the many reviews and articles reserved for them by Internet users, on “Facebook” in particular. They are accused, while all the state, civil and other components fight against this scourge of modern times, to fill their bellies on the back of human misery.
Three or four weeks ago rapid antigenic saliva tests were on sale in pharmacies (100% Made in Morocco). They had been manufactured by the Moroccan biotechnology company, Gigalab not to name it (manufacture of a PCR test and two rapid tests with a production capacity of 2,000,000 units / month) and had previously been approved by the Ministry of Health. In mid-July, the association of Moroccan biologists would have opposed the sale of these products in pharmacies, indicating that the sampling of saliva in the mouth constituted a medical act and that therefore it could not remain available to pharmacies.
But in reality this test, sold at 100 dhs (purchase at 70 dhs excluding VAT (20%) and 10 dhs of margin) in pharmacies, was going to make them a terrible competition from where, it seems, this intervention for the less incongruous and not in accordance with the rules of decorum or even competition in these times of critical health crisis and where solidarity must be a premium at all levels. Lately, the Department of Health had all of these tests removed and collected from pharmacies, indicating in the take-down note that there was something to be checked. But what a surprise, this same test would be found on sale in doctors at 300 dhs, without of course, the doctor’s fees and the consultation, while the cost price is 70 dhs (excluding VAT). Result for the consumer or patient, his sputum is tested at more than 300 dhs instead of 100 dhs. This ever-increasing sputum should be reserved for purposes other than rapid antigenic saliva tests. Finally, let’s say it’s better to swallow it.
In a commentary on this topic, the “Ma3an” (Ensemble) movement stated that “ the Medicines Directorate of the Ministry of Health has withdrawn a product for the rapid examination of Covid from pharmacies, and forced thousands of citizens to undergo laboratory analyzes despite their simple need to confirm or deny the infection with Covid-19 disease “. The movement further stated: “ In a critical period when medical and pharmaceutical self-sufficiency is a global challenge that all countries are striving to meet, a Moroccan laboratory succeeds in producing a saliva detector for the disease of the coronavirus, and offers it to the citizen for a price not not exceeding 100 dirhams; That is to say a seventh of the price (at the very least) of the analysis carried out in the laboratories, emphasizing that “the health of the Moroccan citizen is not a commodity and is not subject to auction, to profit calculations and to profit margins. business losses. TOon the contrary, we continue, “It must be preserved and all sincere national initiatives encouraged, in order to strengthen the pharmaceutical industry and achieve national self-sufficiency”
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