Analysis of the drug formulary and the purchasing process at a Moroccan university medical center.

AIM: To give an overview of the pharmaceutical policy in the largest medical center in Morocco, a developing country in socio-economic transition.

METHODS: This is an analytical descriptive study of the drug formulary and the purchasing process carried out at the Ibn Sina University Medical Center.

RESULTS: Our formulary included 830 drugs belonging to 14 classes according to the Anatomical, Therapeutic and Chemical (ATC) Classification System. There was a respective predominance of class N (21.8%), class B (13.5%), and class J (12.6%). Injectable route was dominant (46%). Drugs had a significant actual benefit in 70% (according to the French Data), reimbursable in 42.8%, essential in 29.2% according to World Health Organization (WHO) list, and in 36.9% according to the Moroccan list. The calls for tenders included 542 drugs representing 65% of the formulary, and the attribution rate was 71%. The main reason for non-attribution was the lack of offers. Generics accounted for 45% by volume and 26.5% by value.

CONCLUSION: With this first study, we were able to identify key indicators on drugs used in the largest medical center in Morocco. The current challenge is to introduce pharmacoeconomics in decision making concerning the updates of the drug formulary.