The Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tahraoui, recognized the major difficulties facing the Moroccan public health system, particularly with regard to waiting times to access care. This statement was made during his presentation before the Social Sectors Committee of the House of Representatives, as part of the discussion of the sectoral budget for the year 2025.
According to the data presented by the minister, the average time to obtain an appointment for medical imaging reaches 51.2 days, while it takes on average 43.5 days to access a specialized consultation. These figures reflect a worrying reality, particularly for citizens seeking urgent or specialized care.
The shortage of medical personnel, a major obstacle
The minister stressed that one of the main factors contributing to these waiting times is the lack of medical personnel, a recurring problem in the public sector. To deal with this, several initiatives have been put in place, notably the reduction of the duration of medical training, the development of specialized training adapted to regional needs, as well as local recruitment to strengthen the workforce in under-resourced areas.
Tahraoui wanted to clarify that the challenges linked to waiting times are not exclusive to Morocco and that they also concern countries with more developed health systems.
Digitalization and structural reforms
Among the solutions already deployed to reduce delays, the minister highlighted the Mawiidi electronic platform, which facilitates the management of medical appointments. In 2022, this platform enabled the recording of more than 1.9 million appointments, compared to 17% in 2017. This progress demonstrates an improvement in transparency and organizational efficiency in the public health system. .
At the same time, broader reforms are underway within the framework of framework law No. 06.22, which aims to restructure the national health system. These reforms seek to:
- Improve access to care for the entire population;
- Distribute medical resources equitably across the national territory;
- Modernize health infrastructure and equipment;
- Expand universal health coverage to ensure more inclusive care.
The balance between public and private
The minister insisted on the importance of establishing a balance between the public and private sectors in order to offer equitable and accessible care. He also underlined the crucial role of emergency centers and permanent medical services, which must ensure continuous access to care, particularly for urgent cases.
These efforts, although ambitious, must be supported by better allocation of resources and increased collaboration between the different players in the sector to meet citizens’ expectations in terms of health.
LNT
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