Rabat: Morocco’s Health Minister has highlighted critical shortcomings in the national health sector, calling for structural reforms. “The government has launched the project of reforming the national health system, considering it a national priority and a key pillar for building a social state and reducing regional disparities,” he stated.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the reform initiative is guided by Framework Law No. 06.22, which serves as a legal and regulatory roadmap for building a new, fair, and efficient health system. The Minister emphasized that the reform’s vision includes establishing university hospital centers (CHUs) in all regions of the Kingdom. Previously limited to four locations-Rabat, Oujda, Fes, and Casablanca-new centers are being inaugurated in Tangier and are expected in Agadir and Laayoune by the end of the year. Additional facilities are anticipated in Guelmim, Errachidia, and Beni Mellal.
Regarding primary healthcare, the Minister revealed an ambitious program aimed at upgrading approximately 1,400 health centers across the Kingdom, with two-thirds located in rural areas. So far, 1,000 centers have been rehabilitated, with plans to complete the remainder by year-end. In some regions, the rehabilitation will cover 66% of all centers. The next phase involves a new program to upgrade an additional 1,600 health centers, aiming to establish “new and unified standards for these health centers.”
The infrastructure of regional, provincial, proximity, and specialized hospitals is also undergoing significant changes. Between 2022 and 2025, 22 projects were completed, adding 2,433 beds. An additional 24 projects are scheduled for opening between 2025 and 2026, adding 2,273 beds.
Addressing human resources, the reform includes establishing new faculties and institutes, such as four new medical schools, and expanding training capacities. Seats for training general practitioners increased from 2,650 in 2019 to 6,414 by 2025. Nursing education also saw significant growth, with training center slots rising from 2,735 in 2019 to 9,500 in 2024.