WHO President Hails Transformation of Morocco's Health Sector
The WHO chief expressed satisfaction with the Moroccan health sector's advances during a meeting with Morocco's Health Minister Amine Tehraoui in Geneva.
The high-level talks took place on Wednesday as health leaders from around the world gathered for the 78th World Health Assembly, where a landmark pandemic agreement topped the agenda.
During the pair's meeting, Tehraoui outlined Morocco's sweeping changes reshaping the North African country's healthcare sector under King Mohammed VI's leadership.
Morocco's ambitious reforms aim to tackle long-standing challenges by ensuring fair access to care, achieving universal coverage, and dramatically improving healthcare quality nationwide.
Tehraoui also revealed plans to transform Morocco into a regional powerhouse for medical manufacturing.
At the heart of this strategy is the groundbreaking 'Marbio' initiative, which seeks to break Africa's dependence on imported medicines through technology transfer and local production capacity.
Not only did the WHO chief commend Morocco's progress in the health sector, but he also pointed out its influential role on the WHO Executive Board, describing the country as a serious partner in global health security.
Tedros pledged the WHO's continued support for Morocco's healthcare revolution, with the country undergoing what represents exactly the kind of transformation the world needs to see more of.
As Morocco positions itself as a bridge between Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of Africa in addressing shared health challenges, this meeting signals the country's growing influence in regional health policy.
Morocco has transformed its healthcare with modern infrastructure and international partnerships. Maternal mortality dropped 70% over two decades, reporting a decline from 244 to 72 deaths per 100,000 births between 2000 and 2020.
The country plans to increase health professionals from 18 to 45 per 10,000 people by 2030 and boost health positions from 4,000 to 6,500 by 2025. The government is also developing a mental health strategy to serve the nearly half of Moroccans who may experience psychological disorders.
Currently, 3,230 mental health professionals are mobilized to support these individuals. Tags: Health sectorMorocco health sectorWHO Morocco
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
2 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Pregnancy emergency forces diversion of Barcelona–Essaouira flight to Malaga
A Vueling aircraft operating a flight from Barcelona to Essaouira was forced to divert on Sunday morning and make an emergency landing at Malaga Airport in Spain after a pregnant passenger on board experienced a medical emergency requiring urgent care. According to Spain's air traffic control account on X (@controladores), the plane, which was flying over Moroccan airspace at the time, requested priority landing due to the health situation. «We facilitated a continuous descent and direct approach to runway 12, gave the aircraft landing priority, and rerouted other air traffic while coordinating with the airport to ensure the necessary medical assistance upon arrival», the account reported. ?❗️ The crew of the flight from Barcelona to Essaouira indicates that they have a pregnant passenger on board who requires urgent medical attention. They request to divert with priority to #Málaga airport. We facilitated a continuous descent… — ?Controladores Aéreos ?? (@controladores) August 3, 2025 The emergency landing was successfully completed approximately 20 minutes after the distress call. Air traffic controllers concluded their message by wishing the mother and baby a swift recovery and thanking all crews involved for their cooperation.
Ya Biladi
6 days ago
- Ya Biladi
Morocco proposes international fund to tackle Africa's food insecurity
Is it still appropriate to speak of progress when, in 2024, 670 million people worldwide are undernourished? This staggering figure, drawn from the latest joint report by the FAO, WHO, and WFP, hints at a slight global improvement but masks stark regional inequalities. In Africa, the situation is deteriorating. The continent alone is home to 307 million people suffering from chronic undernourishment, making up over 20% of its population. This percentage has been on the rise for several years. Africa's vulnerability is primarily due to the fact that in many countries, more than half of the food supply is imported. This, as Lorine Azoulai from CCFD-Terre Solidaire explains, «hinders their ability to develop local production». She adds, «To glimpse any prospects, they must emancipate themselves at least somewhat from international markets». A minor disruption in global markets, a drought, or a war can cause the entire system to collapse. Speculation, geopolitical tensions, and climate change offer no respite. Regional Disparities The same grim reality is evident in certain parts of the Middle East. In Syria, nearly 40% of the population lacks sufficient food, one of the highest rates globally. In Palestine, starvation is wielded as a weapon of war against civilians. The WHO reports a «peak in deaths in July». While the UN report may not detail this acute crisis, the shadow of the enclave looms over every discussion. Forecasts are equally alarming: by 2030, 512 million people could be living with chronic undernourishment, with nearly 60% of them in Africa. A Response from Africa, for Africa Against this backdrop, Morocco proposed a clear initiative on Monday, July 28, in Addis Ababa: the creation of an international fund dedicated exclusively to African food security. Rabat sees this as a crucial lever to bolster the continent's food sovereignty, as outlined by Ahmed El Bouari, Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, during the second review of the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+4). In light of dwindling development aid, particularly following the abrupt cessation of the USAID program that supported 45 million people, this fund aims to be a response from Africa, designed for Africa. The minister underscored the importance of responsible financing, equitable access to food, and inclusive governance. He argued that it is no longer enough to adapt agricultural systems to the climate; there must be a profound transformation in the logic of food supply chains. Morocco claims to have experienced this transformation with its Generation Green 2020–2030 strategy, which combines human investment, ecological transition, and social justice. With this proposal, Morocco aims to put the right to food at the forefront of international discussions. The challenge is not just to feed people but to restore countries' ability to determine their agriculture and future. A collective response is essential. The Kingdom is indeed banking on South-South cooperation, already in motion through royal initiatives like the Adaptation of African Agriculture. Moreover, Morocco advocates for a reimagined multilateral solidarity, one less reliant on major Western donors and more grounded in regional realities. The Forgotten Faces of Hunger Hunger has faces, and they are often the same. Women, children, and isolated rural families are the hardest hit. In some regions, an entire generation is growing up with empty stomachs. In 2023, over 30% of women aged 15 to 49 suffered from anemia, and the gap with men continues to widen. «Hunger and malnutrition are political», economist Raj Patel reminds us. «There is no other way to explain why women are more affected than men», he adds. And yet, there is an explanation. Hunger is not only political; it is also social and deeply linked to imposed roles, as the NGO Action Against Hunger highlights. In some regions, women cannot own land or access resources without a man's approval. Their work—collecting water, feeding the family, caring for children and the elderly, cooking, and tending to the sick—is invisible, domestic, and daily, yet neither remunerated nor recognized. When tensions rise, they bear the brunt of the violence, sometimes forced to trade their dignity for a bit of food. However, alternatives are emerging. In Nigeria, the Porridge Moms program enables mothers to cook together, learn, and most importantly, regain control over what they eat. In Kenya, gardens near wells reduce dependency. Elsewhere, women become business leaders through simple access to tools. Fighting hunger also means empowering women to feed themselves and others. The good news is that the continent will be in the spotlight this fall. The G20, COP30 in Brazil (November 10 – November 21, 2025), the World Committee for Food Security... There will be no shortage of platforms. But the African voice must be strong, clear, and driven by well-defined priorities.
Morocco World
26-07-2025
- Morocco World
Morocco Accelerates Nationwide Expansion of Social Protection for Millions of Citizens
Rabat – Morocco's sweeping social protection reform has positioned the country on a transformative path toward a more inclusive and equitable welfare system, according to Hassan Boubrik, Director General of the National Social Security Fund ( CNSS ). In an exclusive interview with MAP, Boubrik praised the initiative as a 'historic leap' in achieving the vision of King Mohammed VI to build a robust social state. 'The generalization of Compulsory Health Insurance (AMO) has allowed millions of Moroccans—regardless of their status—to access healthcare services with dignity and fairness,' Boubrik said. Prior to the reform launched in 2021, only 40% of Moroccans had health coverage. Today, nearly the entire population is covered, including self-employed workers, beneficiaries of AMO TADAMON (formerly RAMED), and others previously left out. This expansion raised the number of insured individuals from 8 million to nearly 25 million in just a few years. The volume of daily processed claims has also grown significantly, from 20,000 to over 110,000. Boubrik emphasized that this reform has not only broadened access but also harmonized benefits. 'Every Moroccan now receives the same care package and reimbursement rates, regardless of their employment or income level,' he noted. The AMO TADAMON program alone covers 11 million people whose contributions are paid by the state. Beneficiaries can now access healthcare in both public and private facilities, while preserving the right to free care in public hospitals. Social Support and Technological Tools The CNSS Director also highlighted the role of direct financial aid to support low-income households, which now reaches 3.8 million families. He credited the Unified Social Registry (RSU) with improving the targeting and efficiency of these programs, calling it a 'crucial and effective mechanism.' Digital platforms like TAAWIDATY and Damancom have been deployed to streamline citizen services, improving access and processing for both individuals and businesses. Despite the successes, Boubrik acknowledged that several challenges remain. Chief among them is ensuring regular contributions from self-employed workers. Out of 1.7 million principal contributors in this group, only 550,000 are currently up to date on their payments. 'This situation creates a risk of anti-selection, where only those in need of care contribute, threatening the system's sustainability,' he warned. Nonetheless, Boubrik noted progress: the contribution rate has risen from 21% to over 42% in less than a year, driven by awareness campaigns and new legal tools. Ensuring Sustainability and Cost Control As demand for healthcare services grows, the CNSS is also focusing on containing costs without compromising quality. Boubrik stressed the need for reform across multiple fronts: lowering medicine prices, enforcing treatment protocols, promoting prevention, and combating fraud. He also emphasized the central role of public hospitals in the national health strategy. 'With significant investments in infrastructure and personnel, the public sector must lead healthcare delivery. It also helps contain costs, given its lower pricing compared to the private sector,' he added. Boubrik concluded by outlining two major reforms set for completion by the end of 2025: unemployment insurance and expanded retirement benefits. 'The government is actively working to meet these deadlines, which are critical to strengthening Morocco's social safety net,' he confirmed. He also announced the upcoming launch of an electronic medical claim system, set to pilot later this year. This innovation aims to simplify procedures for insured individuals and shorten reimbursement timelines. Tags: CNSShealth insuranceMorocco Health Insurance
