NABD-BC2 at the 12th National and 5th African Congress of Pharmaco-economics and Pharmaco-epidemiology

NABD-BC2 Association was proudly represented by its Advocacy Strategy Lead, Ms. Hajar Gdader, at the 12th National and 5th African Congress of Pharmaco-economics and Pharmaco-epidemiology, organised by SMEPS (Moroccan Society for Health Product Economics) in partnership with ISPOR. The congress took place at the Marriott Hotel in Rabat, Morocco, from 22 to 24 October 2026.

Held under the theme “From the Cost of Health Products to the Cost of Illness: Towards Value-Based Purchasing,” this high-level event brought together decision-makers, healthcare professionals, researchers, payers, and patient advocates from Morocco, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. Over three days, participants discussed key issues, including the establishment of Morocco’s new High Authority for Health, medicine pricing reform, the use of real-world data in oncology, and the development of health technology assessment (HTA) systems across Africa.

Patient engagement was at the heart of NABD-BC2’s participation. During a masterclass led by Professor Roxane Borgès Da Silva of the Université de Montréal, Ms. Hajar Gdader participated in an interactive case study exploring the care journey of a woman living with breast cancer in an area far from the nearest oncology centre. She also shared insights into the everyday challenges faced by the patients supported by our association.

The session highlighted how countries such as Canada and France, as well as the European Union, involve patients and patient organisations in decisions concerning access to new treatments. It served as a powerful reminder that Morocco has an important opportunity to place the patient voice at the heart of health decision-making from the outset.

Breast cancer was also addressed during the oncology session, where Professor Siham Lkhoyaali highlighted that, despite the availability of effective treatments, geographical distance, transportation difficulties, and out-of-pocket expenses continue to prevent many women from accessing the care they need.

Capacity building was another major focus of the congress. A key highlight was the official launch in Morocco of STEPS, a free online training platform dedicated to health technology assessment, featuring modules on patient engagement and patient-reported outcomes. The SMEPS HEOR Academy and its diploma programme were also presented, offering further opportunities to strengthen expertise in health economics and outcomes research.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Dr Amal Yassine and the members of the SMEPS Board for their kind invitation. We also commend the scientific and organising committees for delivering a rich programme that brought together diverse national and international expertise.

As SMEPS President, Professor Amr Maoujoud, reminded participants: “We do not buy a medicine; we buy a health service for the patient.”

Through its participation in initiatives such as this, NABD-BC2 reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the capacities of its team and members, advocating for equitable access to healthcare, and ensuring that patients have a meaningful seat at the table when decisions affecting their health are made.