Education, health and security are the main policies that will benefit from the 408 billion dirhams that Morocco has in its General State Budget for 2023. 13.8% more than last year for which it was It intends to strengthen social welfare in the Alaouite kingdom, which already has its first measure: expand health coverage to more than 32 million workers in the regular economy.
“The Government has also facilitated the modalities of access to health services in decent conditions, to guarantee equality among all Moroccans, regardless of their economic and professional situation”, has pointed out the head of the Moroccan government, Aziz Akhannouch. A measure that benefits the more than 23 million people registered during the past year who currently work in the unregulated economy and free trade.
This vertiginous increase in health coverage also entails an increase in health-related facilities and services, for which the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) has facilitated the opening of new agencies and communication centers to register new workersin addition to the increase in the number of professionals.
In a council of ministers chaired by the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, an agreement was established establishing increase to 90,000 healthcare professionals by 2025, with 24 health professionals for every 10,000 inhabitants. The long-term goal was set at 45 for every 10,000 by 2030. To reach these figures, and according to the agreement, three schools of medicine and pharmacy will be opened, and three university hospitals in Errachidia, Beni Mellal and Guelmim, with a budget of almost 300 million dollars. It is also expected to reduce the duration of medical training from seven to six years in order to comply with the New Development Model (NDM).
Avoiding the lack of health personnel is currently one of the biggest challenges for the country’s government and an issue that is at the center of politics. During the last question session of the House of Representatives, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Khalid Aït Taleb, emphasized the work to be done to achieve the modernization and restructuring of the health sector, specifically to alleviate the insufficiency of human resources. According to the spokesman for the Ministry of Health, the solution would be “more attractive remuneration.”
However, in the session there was also space to highlight the ground gained in this matter. Khalid Aït Taleb highlighted the importance of the “revolution” in the legal texts in process that will improve the health service, such as the statute of health officials and the regional health plan which, as he assures, “is the solution”.
The minister also recalled the actions carried out for the maintenance of equipment, rehabilitation and improvement of hospitals. Moroccan health facilities currently have a capacity of 28,000 beds, in addition to the 3,400 programmed in this year’s budget.
As far as the mandate goes, Aziz Akhannouch’s government has gradually increased the health budget during the first and second year, increasing by more than four billion dirhams from what was invested in 2021. Morocco thus marks a firm step for the already improved health and social welfare.
