Covid-19: Pharmacies Supplied with 4.5 Million Masks Per Day
Rabat - Pharmacies are supplied every day with 4.5 million protective masks in recent days, minister of Industry, Trade, Green and Digital Economy, Moulay Hafid Elalamy, said Tuesday in Rabat, stressing that seven million units are available in stocks.
In response to a central question at the House of Advisors, Elalamy noted that the Moroccan Institute for standardization (IMANOR) had established, in cooperation with the ministry of Health, a series of standards for the production of masks to ensure that they are not harmful to health. These masks are produced only under license, after verification of the quality of the fabric and the producing company, he explained.
"To produce these masks, the choice was made for factories equipped with the necessary equipment and machinery for this purpose," the minister added, noting that the number of producing companies has increased from 17 to 32 today. According to him, the masks are made from washable fabric and can be reused for one week.
"Morocco has managed to produce seven million masks when it was not producing any," said Elalamy, who assured that there is a surplus today of 20 to 30 boxes of masks in pharmacies.
With regard to their export, he stated that this issue is being discussed with a view to stimulating the Moroccan economy, while ensuring the availability of masks in stock.
Referring to artificial respirators, the minister noted that the supervisory department is currently working alongside doctors on a transition to phase III, adding that "there will be a gradual move towards the manufacture of high-level devices, which will be announced shortly".
Concerning the manufacture of hydro-alcoholic antiseptics, the minister specified that with the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), these disinfectants were not available since ethanol is not produced in Morocco due to the fire that occurred 8 months ago in the company that produced it.
In this context, he said that the ministry has made every effort to restart the plant, adding that at present 240 hectolitres of ethanol are produced every day.
In response to a central question at the House of Advisors, Elalamy noted that the Moroccan Institute for standardization (IMANOR) had established, in cooperation with the ministry of Health, a series of standards for the production of masks to ensure that they are not harmful to health. These masks are produced only under license, after verification of the quality of the fabric and the producing company, he explained.
"To produce these masks, the choice was made for factories equipped with the necessary equipment and machinery for this purpose," the minister added, noting that the number of producing companies has increased from 17 to 32 today. According to him, the masks are made from washable fabric and can be reused for one week.
"Morocco has managed to produce seven million masks when it was not producing any," said Elalamy, who assured that there is a surplus today of 20 to 30 boxes of masks in pharmacies.
With regard to their export, he stated that this issue is being discussed with a view to stimulating the Moroccan economy, while ensuring the availability of masks in stock.
Referring to artificial respirators, the minister noted that the supervisory department is currently working alongside doctors on a transition to phase III, adding that "there will be a gradual move towards the manufacture of high-level devices, which will be announced shortly".
Concerning the manufacture of hydro-alcoholic antiseptics, the minister specified that with the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), these disinfectants were not available since ethanol is not produced in Morocco due to the fire that occurred 8 months ago in the company that produced it.
In this context, he said that the ministry has made every effort to restart the plant, adding that at present 240 hectolitres of ethanol are produced every day.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Covid-19-Pharma...