The 24th edition of the International Pharmaceutical Forum (FPI) is being held in Tunis on May 1 and 2, 2025. This is a major event bringing together the main players in the pharmaceutical industry in Africa, with a particularly notable Moroccan participation. The theme chosen for this edition is “The role of artificial intelligence in the pharmaceutical industry”. In a press release, the National Council of the Order of Tunisian Pharmacists announced that this edition of the International Pharmaceutical Forum will bring together more than 30 countries, with the participation of 50 experts and specialists, 70 exhibitors, including 4 Moroccan pharmaceutical laboratories, in addition to a pavilion dedicated to the Moroccan Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry and Innovation (FMIIP), and nearly 3,000 participants expected. The FMIIP indicated that Morocco’s participation in this international forum is part of a dynamic of opening to foreign markets, in partnership with the Moroccan Agency for the Development of Investments and Exports (AMDIE). She also underlined that this orientation constitutes a strategic necessity for the national pharmaceutical sector, making it possible to both reduce production costs and improve overall performance, in a context where the domestic market remains relatively restricted. During this two-day forum, Moroccan experts take part in scientific seminars and debates, through interventions relating to the issues linked to the growth of generative artificial intelligence, the role of national regulatory agencies in Africa, the contribution of AI in the personalization of care, as well as its integration into pharmaceutical university training. Read also: The future Ibn Sina University Hospital in Rabat will be the largest hospital center in Africa On the other hand, during an intervention before the Committee on Productive Sectors in the House of Representatives last February, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Ryad Mezzour, stressed that, despite the vitality of the Moroccan pharmaceutical market, estimated at 22 billion dirhams per year, the sector is facing significant challenges, in particular a worrying shortage of medicines, impacting the diversity and availability of essential products. In terms of turnover, Morocco ranks second in Africa, behind South Africa, and occupies fifth place in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The country has additional production potential, likely to be oriented towards African markets, thus being part of the realization of the Royal Vision aimed at strengthening South-South cooperation. According to a study conducted by Henri-Louis Vedie, entitled “Is the Moroccan industrial pharmaceutical sector ready to take up the challenge of the Kingdom’s health sovereignty? », the national pharmaceutical ecosystem in 2024 stands out for its dynamism and strong development potential, based on a dual engine of growth: internal and external. The report also highlights that Morocco has established itself as a center of excellence in the production of generic medicines at lower costs, thus generating substantial savings. These are considered essential to maintain the financial balance of health insurance, while contributing to the improvement of the country’s trade balance.
