The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced the mobilization of 120 million euros (approximately 1.3 billion dirhams) with the aim of strengthening universal access to health care in Morocco.
In a press release sent to MoroccoLatestNewsthe AfDB pointed out that this funding will be directed to the Support Program for Inclusive Access to Health Infrastructure (PAAIIS), where the effectiveness of the funding will be assessed based on the results achieved.
The project aims to improve access to health services in order to contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of the populations, in particular of women residing in rural areas.
The project includes various measures, such as improving access to healthcare infrastructure, modernizing healthcare services through innovative solutions aimed at improving communication, as well as strengthening governance by optimizing the allocation of human and financial resources.
Three regions will benefit from this project, namely Beni Mellal-Khénifra, Drâa-Tafilalet and Guelmim-Oued Noun. The care units for women and children should be operational in the new regional center of Guelmim as well as in the regional hospital center of Fquih Ben Salah.
Hospitals will also be built and equipped in the targeted regions and provinces, including the Beni Mellal Regional Hospital Center and the Azilal Provincial Hospital Center. In addition, hospitals in the targeted regions will be equipped with medical and technical capacities.
The project also includes equipping rural areas with remote medical devices and remote consultations, strengthening the staff of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and regional health groups, as well as increasing the number of graduates from higher institutes of nursing and technical health professions.
According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), this project comes at a time when Morocco has made significant progress in improving its health outcomes. The state has made significant investments in the sector over the past two decades.
The bank pointed out that the government committed in 2018 to the Health Plan 2025, which aims to improve citizens’ access to quality health care. The government program also gives the highest priority to strengthening the foundations of the social state by expanding protection against health risks through the generalization of health insurance and retirement pensions, by creating a system of assistance targeting the most vulnerable families, as well as reforming the health sector and the public education system.