Latest news with #Tahraoui
Ya Biladi
3 days ago
- Health
- Ya Biladi
Morocco launches national program to rehabilitate 83 hospitals and build new CHUs by 2030
Health and Social Protection Minister Amine Tahraoui announced on Monday, during the oral question session in the House of Representatives, the launch of a national program to rehabilitate 83 hospitals, with a combined capacity of 8,700 beds. Of these, 1,729 beds are expected to be operational by 2025, with an additional 2,056 by 2028. Responding to a question from the opposition Socialist Ittihadi Group about the development and rehabilitation of public hospital infrastructure, Tahraoui said the ministry is pursuing an ambitious investment strategy aimed at upgrading and modernizing public healthcare facilities. As part of this strategy, he outlined plans to rehabilitate hospitals by 2030, including the construction of five new University Hospital Centers (CHUs) in Agadir, Laayoune, Errachidia, Guelmim, and Béni Mellal, along with the reconstruction of Rabat's Ibn Sina Hospital. The total projected capacity for these projects is 3,807 beds. The program also includes the modernization and upgrading of existing CHUs in Fès, Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, and Oujda, through infrastructure improvements and the installation of state-of-the-art medical equipment. Turning to rural healthcare, Tahraoui noted that the ministry is continuing its national program to rehabilitate 1,400 rural health centers. So far, 950 centers have been upgraded, with the remainder expected to be completed by the end of 2025. He also highlighted that 71% of Morocco's health infrastructure is located in rural areas, comprising 2,186 facilities, including 433 second-level centers equipped with maternity wards or local emergency units.
Morocco World
4 days ago
- Health
- Morocco World
Morocco Moves to Lower Medicine Costs, Expand Local Production
Rabat — Morocco's Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tahraoui, on Monday presented to the House of Representatives an ambitious reform plan to overhaul the pricing system of medicines. The initiative forms part of the royal project to expand social protection and aims to improve access to affordable healthcare while strengthening Morocco's pharmaceutical sovereignty. Speaking during a question session at the lower house of parliament, Tahraoui outlined the key pillars of the reform, which include a structural revision of Morocco's pharmaceutical policy, expansion of local production, and modernization of supply chains. He stressed that the new pricing model seeks to ensure fairness in access to treatments, support citizens' purchasing power, and maintain the quality and availability of medicines at reasonable costs. The reform is anchored in the framework law 06.22 on the national health system, which establishes a policy guaranteeing the availability, quality, and affordability of health products. Tahraoui noted that drug expenditures continue to weigh heavily on both Moroccan households and public finances, particularly as the mandatory health coverage program has expanded. Between 2022 and 2024, reimbursements for medicines alone rose by 31%, he said. Recognizing these pressures, the government has made revising medicine pricing a strategic priority, balancing social and economic considerations. Over 30 consultation meetings have been held with key stakeholders — including pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacists, and insurers — to reach a consensus on a draft decree. Now in its final stages, the draft is expected to be submitted to the Government Council soon. According to the minister, the proposed model introduces several key measures: shortening the timelines for price reviews, phasing in the changes to preserve market stability, maintaining low prices for essential medicines, and encouraging domestic production. Beyond pricing, the ministry is also launching a series of institutional and technological initiatives to modernize the sector. Tahraoui announced the establishment of the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products, created under law 10.22, which will oversee implementation of the reforms. The agency will also spearhead a digital transformation program, including digitized procedures, the use of artificial intelligence to assess clinical trials, and an integrated electronic platform for monitoring and management. Additionally, a national drug observatory will be set up to monitor prices, anticipate supply shortages, and analyze market trends. To address inefficiencies in the public health supply chain , which has an annual budget of 3.6 billion dirhams, the ministry plans to roll out a unified national logistics platform. This system is designed to reduce waste caused by stockouts and expired medicines and is expected to be deployed gradually over the next 18 months. On the vaccination front, Tahraoui highlighted progress on the 'Marbio' project in Benslimane, which aims to meet 100% of the country's vaccine needs by 2027. Contracts have already been signed to supply three key vaccines — pneumococcal, meningococcal, and hexavalent — with over MAD 1 billion allocated to producing 5.4 million doses between 2025 and 2026. The first batch of locally manufactured vaccines is anticipated before the end of 2025. This comprehensive reform package shed light on Morocco's commitment to making healthcare more affordable and accessible while fostering a resilient, self-sufficient pharmaceutical sector in line with national development goals. Tags: medicinces pricesmedicines in Moroccopharmaceutical regulation
Morocco World
17-06-2025
- Health
- Morocco World
Report: Morocco Ranks 111th Globally in Tobacco Use
Rabat – Morocco records a relatively low tobacco use rate compared to global standards, according to the CIA's World Factbook 2025. The new figures show that 12.3% of the population consumes tobacco, placing Morocco 111th worldwide. The rate is driven largely by male users, who account for 23.7%, compared to just 0.9% among women. Of all the African countries, Morocco ranks 14th. Egypt (25.8%) and Algeria (21.4%) both consume more and rank 39th and 60th globally, respectively. Tunisia stands at 19%, while Mauritania reports the lowest rate in the Maghreb at 8.3%, landing in 140th place internationally. Burkina Faso slightly surpasses Morocco at 12.4%, while other nations like Namibia and Zambia follow behind. Despite Morocco´s placement among countries with moderate tobacco use, the figures draw attention to lingering structural issues. Unregulated and illicit tobacco products continue to circulate in several regions, sold at low prices and outside official monitoring channels. Access to smoking cessation services in Morocco remains limited, especially in areas beyond major cities, where healthcare systems are already under pressure. In January, Health Minister Amine Tahraoui announced a renewed national strategy to tackle what he described as one of the country's most pressing health issues. The updated plan restructures Morocco's tobacco control efforts, originally part of the 2010–2019 National Plan for Cancer Prevention and Control, which prioritized reducing tobacco use. Tahraoui cited troubling statistics. Smoking causes 8% of all deaths in Morocco. It is behind 75% of lung cancer fatalities, and contributes to 10% of deaths from respiratory diseases. A 2021 study by the ministry linked tobacco use in 2019 to over 74,000 cases of cardiovascular disease, more than 4,200 new lung cancer diagnoses, and 12,800 premature deaths. Tags: CigarettesHealthMoroccoMorocco smokerstobacco use
Maroc
05-06-2025
- Health
- Maroc
Morocco Reiterates in Kigali Commitment to African Health Sovereignty
Morocco reaffirmed on Wednesday in Kigali its commitment to African health sovereignty and to the progressive and inclusive implementation of the African Medicines Agency (AMA). Speaking at the 2nd ordinary session of the Conference of the States Parties to the AMA Treaty, held on June 2-4, Minister of Health and Social Protection Amine Tahraoui hailed the creation of the Agency as a major step towards the continent's health sovereignty, enabling better access to safe, effective and quality medicines. To Morocco, this continental momentum is a source of inspiration and an opportunity for regulatory convergence,' the Minister emphasized, stressing the importance of an approach tailored to the institutional and regulatory realities of each country, based on listening, consultation and respect for national priorities. Tahraoui then called for the progressive harmonization of regulatory frameworks, the establishment of regular consultation mechanisms between national authorities and AMA, and the reinforcement of technical and human capacities on a continental scale. Tahraoui also pointed out that by end 2024, the Kingdom had achieved 88% coverage in compulsory health insurance, adding that 11 million people benefited from direct state support. A $4.2 billion health infrastructure modernization program is underway, he stated, adding that the number of university hospital centers will go from 6 to 12, while 79 new hospitals are under construction, and 1,439 primary health centers are being renovated, 70% of them in rural areas. On the industrial front, Tahraoui noted that Morocco is the continent's second-largest pharmaceutical producer, with 56 industrial units covering 70% of national needs and exports to over 45 African countries. With regard to the appointment of AMA's future Director General, Tahraoui spoke of Morocco's respect to the institutional process currently underway and full confidence in the competent commission to carry it out, in all transparency and impartiality. (MAP: 04 June 2025)
Morocco World
27-05-2025
- Health
- Morocco World
Measles Cases Drop 80% in Morocco as Vaccination Coverage Reaches 95%
Doha – Morocco has recorded an 80% decrease in measles cases compared to the peak registered 16 weeks ago, according to Health and Social Protection Minister Amine Tahraoui. Speaking at the House of Representatives in Rabat on Monday, Tahraoui announced that the national weekly incidence rate has fallen to just one case per 100,000 people. This reduction comes as a result of an intensive vaccination campaign implemented by the ministry following the initial outbreak. The campaign has successfully pushed the national vaccination coverage rate above 95% among children under 18 years old, meeting the threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The health ministry has been working since the first cases appeared to develop a comprehensive national plan to combat the spread of measles, accompanied by various field measures. As of May 16, authorities had verified the vaccination status of more than 10.76 million children under 18, representing 98.57% of the target population. Through this process, 754,202 unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children were identified. Through a large-scale field mobilization, 586,912 of these children have now been vaccinated, achieving a completion rate of approximately 78%. This has helped reduce the vaccination gap and limit the spread of the epidemic. The campaign has enabled the administration of a total of 801,702 doses of measles vaccine, including booster and preventive doses. Read also: 'Bouhemroun': Measles Outbreak Claims Lives in Morocco's Remote Regions The recent measles outbreak in Morocco hit concerning levels. WHO reported that from October 1, 2023, to April 13, 2025, the North African country saw over 25,000 suspected measles cases across all 12 regions, including 13,706 confirmed infections and 184 deaths. The resurgence of measles, which had almost disappeared in Morocco, was largely attributed to the rise of anti-vaccine sentiments. Health officials noted that the global anti-vaccination movement influenced Moroccan parents, despite the country having measles vaccination programs in place since the 1960s. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination rates decreased due to lockdowns and fears of infection in hospitals. Some parents developed a 'vaccine phobia' following the pandemic, requiring health workers to conduct interviews explaining the benefits of vaccination. The government responded with awareness campaigns in schools and public warnings about false information spreading on social media, including misleading claims that the measles vaccine was actually a fourth dose of the COVID vaccine. The Ministry of Health plans to maintain these gains by continuing campaigns and awareness activities, taking into account the local specificities of different regions across the country. The ministry also mentioned strengthening the technical, managerial, and communication skills of health personnel, as well as accelerating the digitization of the information system, currently in a pilot phase, to create a national vaccination registry. Tags: measlesMeasles Vaccination
