Health: The Reform on the Right Track…

In tackling healthcare reform, the government has not chosen to resort to superficial fixes. The approach has been to overhaul the entire system from the ground up while also creating new components. The goal is to address the challenges posed by a project whose primary ambition, like others, is to achieve the necessary efficiency and effectiveness. 

Among the key levers, governance stands out as a central pillar. Brick by brick, the framework is taking shape. Indeed, since the launch of this initiative—deeply rooted in the process of consolidating the social state—several governance bodies have been established. 

One after another, we have witnessed the creation of the High Health Authority, the Medicines and Health Products Agency, and the Blood and Derivatives Agency. These are critical structures in this process, as their activation strengthens “regulatory and control mechanisms for operators’ actions” and reinforces “hospital governance and the territorial planning of healthcare provision.” 

When Action Meets Follow-Through…

If this reformist momentum continues smoothly, it is because, underlying it all, there is “regular and rigorous” monitoring of the process. Indeed, this has been part of the approach adopted by the Head of Government from the outset and across all initiatives: “We diagnose, we plan, we act, and we ensure follow-up.”

The recent Steering Committee meeting, held on Tuesday, March 11, under the leadership of the Head of Government, falls squarely within this framework. During the session, Aziz Akhannouch emphasized that “the government continues its efforts responsibly to enhance healthcare services.”

While universal health coverage is a commendable goal, it would lack meaning without healthcare provisions that meet the expectations and aspirations of the targeted populations. The true challenge remains “ensuring high-quality public health services.”

On this front, beyond the activated governance mechanisms, the Executive is advancing other levers of reform. This includes the infrastructure pillar, with ongoing construction, expansion, and modernization of six university hospital centers and 79 provincial and regional hospitals, adding 11,338 beds to the system.

For this vast machinery to operate at full capacity, significant efforts are also being directed toward human resources, whose role in driving the reform is critical. During Tuesday’s meeting, the issue of advancing these resources was addressed, particularly the implementation of a program to increase healthcare professionals by 2030.

“Notable progress has already been made,” especially regarding commitments under the framework agreement signed in July 2022, which aims to reduce staffing shortages and overhaul training systems. A major project to establish a medical and pharmacy school in every region of the Kingdom is on track, with new institutions already operational in Guelmim, Errachidia, and Béni Mellal.

Parallel efforts focus on digitizing the national health system—a complex but essential task. This involves creating an integrated IT system to collect and process core health data. To this end, a partnership agreement will soon be signed between the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the CNSS to ensure financial alignment and efficiency.

While the reforms are progressing well, Aziz Akhannouch urged stakeholders at the Steering Committee meeting not to rest on their laurels, calling for “diligence and efficiency” in execution… 

Private Sector: Fully Committed

At times, politicized stances seek to vilify the private sector’s role in the reform process. While certain actors may deserve criticism for specific practices—and existing laws aim to curb such issues—blanket condemnations of an entire sector should have limits.

After all, many private players have embraced community-focused initiatives targeting even the most remote regions of the country. Their investments—massive in both equipment and human resources—span diverse specialties, signaling a shift far from traditional paradigms.

To manufacture baseless “arguments” against this engagement is pure exaggeration. The reality is simple: the public sector alone cannot meet the demands of universal healthcare expansion. Moreover, the public and private sectors operate not in confrontation or competition, but in complementarity—a principle that must remain central.