Health & Education

Significant strides have been made in improving health indicators, particularly in terms of maternal and child mortality rates. Costs, however, are likely to remain a major obstacle, with out-of-pocket expenditure accounting for approximately 53% of spending on health care. A 2011 constitutional amendment enshrined access to health care as a basic right and the authorities are working to expand coverage. The Medical Assistance Regime (Régime d’Assistance Médicale, RAMED), first launched in 2009, aims to provide 8.5m impoverished people – around 27% of the total population – with medical assistance to enhance access to medical and health care service. As of end-2013, around 7m people were benefiting from RAMED coverage. Ongoing negotiations to extend insurance coverage will be key to ensuring universal access to health care services. The expansion of rural health care, notably emergency services, should also contribute towards reducing the disparity in service provision throughout the country. The Emergency Plan 2009-12 has channeled substantial funds into the education sector, allowing better infrastructure to facilitate an increase in school enrollment rates. Nevertheless, a number of challenges still need to be addressed to improve access to education in rural areas and ensure greater gender equality. Launched five years ago, the Emergency Plan 2009-12 aims to boost schooling levels in the kingdom, enhance the quality of teaching and infrastructure, and improve higher education and scientific research. Net enrolment in primary education went up from 52.4% to 98.2% between 2005/06 and 2012/13, while middle school and secondary school also saw improved enrolment levels. The growth of private universities and the proliferation of PPPs in higher education should help Morocco absorb a rising number of prospective students, as well as allow the country to create offerings in line with the needs of the job market. This chapter contains interviews with El Houssaine Louardi, Minister of Health; Mehdi Zaghloul, President, Maroc Innovation et Santé; and Larbi Bencheikh, Managing Director, Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT).