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Moroccan pharmacists headed to chemists donningÌýblack armbands on Monday inÌýprotest against the ministry of health’s apparent disregard forÌýshortages of medicineÌýamid the kingdom'sÌýCovid-19Ìýcrisis.

The Confederation of Moroccan Pharmacists Syndicates hadÌýpreviously ÌýMoroccan media that pharmacies are witnessing a severe shortage of Vitamin C, Dolbran, Paracetamol, and some medicines for coughs and colds, in addition to medicines for children, which have been used by Covid-19 patients.

This has led pharmacists to protest the health crisis.

“Closing the doors of the ministry of health to pharmacists, freezing all reform workshops for the pharmacy sector...Ìýdisregarding the health of citizens through the permanent and unjustified interruption of medicines are the reasons behind our strike,"Ìýsaid the pharmacists' groupÌýin a

The pharmacists' confederationÌýdeclinedÌýto speak to °®Âþµº, describing the issue as aÌý"national matter".

AÌýsource at a pharmacy in the capital Rabat confirmed toÌý°®ÂþµºÌýabout theÌýreported drugÌýshortages.

"Sometimes we feel ashamed of disappointing a client asking for a certain drug, it's a hard situation for everyone," the source said.

Morocco's health ministry and the Moroccan Federation for the Pharmaceutical Industry and Innovation haveÌýthe pharmacists' statements, saying that Morocco’s was well-stocked with drugs used toÌýtreat Covid-19 symptoms - includingÌýchloroquine, erythromycin, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin DÌýand paracetamol - and there are enough supplies toÌýcoverÌýthe population's needs.Ìý

The ministry described the pharmacists' statement as "fake news that aim to create panic and confusion among the citizens".

Morocco has seen more than 1 million cases of Covid-19 resulting in almost 15,000 deaths, seeing a surge in cases recently following the outbreak of theÌýOmicron variant.