Are there pharmacies in Morocco, and are they easy to use?

One of the quiet reassurances of travelling in Morocco is just how good and accessible the pharmacies are. You'll spot them constantly in towns and cities — marked with a green cross, often illuminated — and they're well stocked with everything from painkillers and rehydration salts to antihistamines, antiseptics, stomach remedies and more. For the everyday hiccups of travel, the pharmacy is often all you need.

What makes them so useful is the pharmacists themselves. Moroccan pharmacists are highly trained and take an active, advisory role — far more than a till operator. You can describe your symptoms and they'll recommend an appropriate remedy, advise on dosage, and tell you frankly when something warrants seeing a doctor instead. Many speak French and a good number speak English, particularly in tourist areas, so communication is usually straightforward. A surprising range of medicines that need a prescription back home can be bought over the counter here, which makes resolving a minor issue quick and cheap.

A genuinely helpful feature is the pharmacie de garde (duty pharmacy) system. Pharmacies rotate so that at least one in each area stays open through the night, on Sundays and on public holidays. The roster is posted in pharmacy windows, often printed in local papers, and your hotel or riad reception will know which one is on duty — so even a 2am stomach emergency has a solution. In bigger cities there are also some longer-hours and overnight pharmacies.

A few practical tips. Bring the generic (chemical) name of any medication you rely on, not just a brand name, as brands differ between countries — this helps the pharmacist find your equivalent instantly. Pharmacies generally take cash, and prices are very reasonable. While they're excellent, don't expect them to stock every specialist or unusual prescription drug, which is exactly why I always say bring your own essential prescriptions from home with you.

In short, the pharmacy is your friendly first port of call for anything minor, and it removes a lot of the worry travellers carry about falling ill abroad. Between widespread, well-run pharmacies and good city clinics for anything bigger, you're genuinely well covered. Your riad staff can always direct or even walk you to the nearest one.