Morocco to allocate extra US$ 155 million to reform health sector

The Moroccan government will allocate an extra MAD 1.4 billion (nearly US$ 155 million) to reform the health sector said Friday Moroccan Health minister, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah.

Speaking at a debate themed "Realities, prospects and challenges," the minister said the reform aims at improving the quality of health services and make them closer to all Moroccan citizens.

During the last four years, 10 out of the Moroccan 124 public hospitals have become modern hospitals with an administrative staff able to face the quality, medicare security and cost control challenges, he said.

The government sets up also five-investment programs to create a new generation of modern hospitals that meet international standards.

The programs aim at creating 16 new hospitals and developing University Hospital Centers (UHC) notably in Marrakech and Fez (Centre) and building a new UHC in Oujda (East).

They also cover various disciplines such as oncology and ophthalmology and virology.

As for hospital emergency services, forty hospitals will be upgraded and 11 medical emergency services (SAMU) will be built, two of which have already been launched in Rabat and Casablanca.

Concerning management, the government set up the Support Program to the Health Sector management (PAGSS) that is carried out with the support of the European union and targets the Eastern region of the kingdom that boasts five hospitals and 19 health centers.