The production unit of chloroquine in Casablanca has made available a large stock of this substance, distributed periodically and regulated to all hospitals and university hospitals (CHU) in the Kingdom, said Ahdi during the interactive meeting broadcast live by the ministry of Health via its official Facebook page.

Despite the global issues and constraints related to the acquisition of this substance in these exceptional circumstances, the ministry of Health is working to provide it to all regions of the Kingdom, he explained, noting that the ministry has entered into contracts with other suppliers of chloroquine and drugs related to the Covid-19 treatment protocol.

Ahdi noted that supply continues as part of the overall mobilization at the central and regional levels to provide medicines and all personal protective equipment for ministry of Health professionals.

The Moroccan official indicated, in this regard, that the ministry has made two types of masks (surgical and FFP2) available to health professionals, and distributed these supplies to the department's regional delegations from a common perspective with military medical professionals, in accordance with the Royal High Instructions, in order to create a dynamic enabling all health professionals to have access to all medical supplies.

 In order to meet the growing demand for this equipment, coordination has been carried out with the ministry of Industry, Trade and Green and Digital Economy to enable certain textile factories to manufacture medical masks, protective suits, shoes and helmets, which will be made available at the national level, according to technical and scientific measures, Ahdi noted, pointing out that these factories continuously supply the central warehouses of the ministry of Health with these supplies.

He added that immediately after the announcement of the national plan to monitor and respond to coronavirus infection at the national level, there was a positive interaction with all sectors of government to enact a law to simplify the procedure for the procurement and acquisition of medicines and medical supplies, to conclude agreements as soon as possible to procure medicines.

In the live interaction with citizens' questions, he highlighted the following points:

 -Medical equipment and masks imported from China meet all international quality standards.

-Recently acquired Covid-19 infection detection equipment has been distributed to the screening centres and laboratories of the ministry of Health in the various regions of the Kingdom to diagnose this epidemic.

-Chloroquine is not only used in the treatment of Covid-19, and will therefore be provided to other patients with a medical prescription.

-The ministry of Health has a strategy for the supply of medical masks and protective supplies to all persons in direct or indirect contact with the health sector, which enables the private health sector to conclude contracts for the purchase of personal protective equipment to be made available to all private clinics (general medicine or dentistry, etc.).

- Rising prices for medical masks and other protective equipment are normal given the increased global demand.