Moroccan ophthalmologists are calling for urgent regulatory approval of Avastin, a drug used globally for over 15 years to treat serious retinal conditions. While the medication has proven both safe and effective internationally—and is significantly cheaper than its alternatives—it remains unauthorized for ophthalmological use in Morocco, leaving both patients and doctors in a precarious position.
The National Union of Private Ophthalmologists of Morocco (SNOLM), backed by the Moroccan Society of Ophthalmology and the Moroccan Society of Vitreo-Retinal Pathology, is pressing health authorities to establish a clear legal framework that would allow Avastin to be used safely via intraocular injection. According to these medical professionals, the issue goes beyond science—it’s a matter of healthcare equity and access.
Avastin, or bevacizumab, is an anti-VEGF drug widely used internationally to treat conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, and retinal vein occlusion. More than 4,500 scientific studies support its use in these fields, and it has been recommended by global institutions such as the World Health Organization and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In countries like France and the UK, Avastin is administered within tightly regulated protocols, often under temporary use authorizations.
But in Morocco, the drug is only approved for cancer-related treatments. That means its use in eye care falls into a legal gray area, exposing doctors to potential liability and forcing patients to choose between their vision and their finances. While a reconditioned dose of Avastin costs around 300 dirhams, competing treatments with official marketing approval are priced at over 5,000 dirhams—an enormous gap that puts vision-saving care out of reach for many, particularly elderly and diabetic patients.
For ophthalmologists, this isn’t about cutting corners or pursuing experimental alternatives. They argue that Avastin’s use in eye care is a well-established and regulated practice worldwide. Its continued exclusion from Morocco’s health system, they say, is not only outdated but deeply unjust.
In early October, during the Autumn Days of Ophthalmology conference held in Rabat, SNOLM and its partner organizations presented a joint memorandum to public authorities. They outlined four concrete proposals: a national exemption allowing the use of Avastin for eye conditions, strict oversight of the drug’s reconditioning process, its inclusion in Morocco’s national health insurance reimbursement system, and a legal framework to protect practitioners from legal risk.
The union also warned of the human, social, and financial cost of avoidable blindness. Providing access to affordable treatment, they argue, would protect the independence of thousands of Moroccans, ease pressure on public health budgets, and promote greater equity in access to specialized care—especially in underserved regions.
“We’re simply asking for common medical sense, a shared ethical standard, and collective responsibility,” said Dr. Miriam Wafi, president of SNOLM. For Morocco’s private ophthalmologists, authorizing Avastin under proper medical supervision would be a fair, effective, and sustainable decision.
With public health debates intensifying, the lack of access to a proven, lower-cost treatment continues to frustrate the medical community. The result? Thousands of Moroccans risk losing their sight—not because no solution exists, but because the approved alternatives are prohibitively expensive.
The price difference is difficult to justify, especially when it leaves a large portion of the population without realistic treatment options. Despite years of advocacy by eye care professionals, the Ministry of Health has yet to take action. For many in the field, the silence is no longer tolerable.
The message is clear: the time for hesitation has passed.
