Health official denies acquisition of 100,000 testing kits announced by the Ministry of Finance

Director of Epidemiology at the ministry of Health, Mohamed El Youbi, denied on Tuesday reports on the acquisition by Morocco of 100,000 coronavirus testing kits from a South Korean firm.

«These are fake news», El Youbi told MAP. Morocco does indeed receive testing kits from several countries, but the figure of 100.000 kits is «speculative», he pointed out.

The number rejected by Lyoubi was, however,announced, Friday, by the Ministry of Finance. In an official press release, said ministry announced that 2 billion dirhams issued from the Covid-19 fund has allowed the purchase of medical and hospital equipment: «1,000 resuscitation beds, 500 medical vacuums, 100,000 sampling kits and 100,000 test kits», in addition to radiological and imaging equipment.

On Monday, 2M.ma reported that Morocco to receive testing kits from South Korean company Osang Healthcare, manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies.

It also said that an agreement was signed on March 26, between Rafik Rachadi, Morocco's ambassador to South Korea, and the CEO of Osang Healthcare regarding that.