“The availability and safety of hemophilia medications are of particular importance to the Health Ministry,” Morocco’s Minister of Health and Social Protection, Khaled Ait Taleb, said on Wednesday in Rabat on World Hemophilia Day.
He added that Morocco’s national pharmaceutical policy includes access to and the availability and safety of hemophilia medications as part of ensuring equitable access to affordable medications.
Hemophilia is a cosmopolitan problem worldwide, affecting approximately 400,000 people, of which only 30% are diagnosed.
In Morocco, according to the latest national census, over 1,000 hemophiliacs are known and monitored at dedicated treatment centers, but it is estimated that there are about 3,000 individuals who suffer from the disease.
Morocco’s national plan established in 2010 to enhance the quality of life for hemophilia patients focuses on various aspects such as screening, diagnostics, treatment, communication, monitoring, evaluation, partnerships, and support, according to the minister.
The plan has notably improved access to quality care through 17 care centers, including six centers located in university hospitals and 11 centers in regional and provincial hospitals.
The General Manager of Roche Laboratory, Dr. Sanaa Sayagh, which has recently entered into a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection as part of the national program for the prevention and control of hemophilia, stated that all efforts are being made to ensure the availability and accessibility of therapies to patients in need.
The laboratory is also working on establishing a platform for sharing experiences and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to enhance hemophilia care in Morocco, she added.
Morocco’s theme for World Hemophilia Day 2024 was “Towards equitable access for all and better hemophilia care in Morocco.”