Health insurance to cover 34% of Moroccans, official
Morocco, Health, 1/5/2005

The implementation of the new Health Insurance Code will up the total number of recipients from 17% presently to 34% of the Moroccan population and will be extended to liberal professions, bringing the number of recipients to 50% of Moroccans, announced, here Tuesday, Health Minister, Mohamed Biadillah.

This came at the signing ceremony of the implementation Charter of the basic Health Insurance's Code, chaired by King Mohammed VI.

He said that the national health system requires 18 billion DH (Euro 1.6 billion) annually, which is 600 DH (per person). Presently, he went on, families pay for 54% of the system's overall expenses.

The code provides for two systems: the compulsory health insurance (AMO) and the medical assistance regime (REMAD). AMO will apply to people who have a paid activity, pension earners, former resisters and members of the liberation army and students. RAMED is a public mechanism which shall guarantee completely or relatively free medicare for a package of care extended by public health structures.

AMO, to enter into force this January, will extend coverage to 216,000 new recipients in the public sector, including 78,000 retirees, bringing, thus to 3.2 million the total number of recipients of services extended by the national board of social welfare organizations (CNOPS).

This insurance will cover all chronic diseases, including 70% of expenses for drugs and 100% of costly chronic diseases.

For the private sector, the compulsory health insurance will for the first time include 4.5 million persons (active persons, retirees and dependents).

The medical assistance regime (REMAD), estimated to cost between 1.7 billion and 2.3 billion DH (Euro 151.7 million and Euro 205 million), will be operational in 2006 covering between 12 and 15 million persons with limited income and who have had no medical coverage so far.

Pending the enforcement of REMAD, the government will take gradual measures to secure free health care in state hospitals, for a budget of 600 million DH (Euro 53.5 million).

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Driss Jettou said the charter, fruit of dialogue between the government, enterprises and social partners, means to deepen social peace and meeting basic conditions for economic and social development. It also aims at promoting social welfare, justice, equality, solidarity, mutual help, and at fighting all forms of poverty. The Charter was signed by the Prime Minister, the Moroccan Confederation of Enterprises (CGEM/employers union), and five Trade Unions.

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