The relationship between Morocco’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection and health sector unions has become increasingly strained due to the lack of participatory decision-making in implementing legal texts and delays in executing the July 23 agreement.
A series of urgent statements and letters have been sent to Health Minister Amin Ettahraoui, demanding an emergency meeting to correct the ministry’s approach.
The frustration is not limited to union leaders; a large segment of medical, nursing, administrative, and technical staff share concerns over prolonged delays in the release of professional competency exam results—now nearly two months overdue, marking an unprecedented situation.
Hamza El Ibrahimi, a member of the regional health union coordination in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, criticized the ministry for its “procrastination and circumvention” in implementing the July 23 agreement. Speaking to Hespress, he pointed out that the agreement, signed after over 60 rounds of negotiations between unions, the government, and the ministry, outlined essential financial and professional commitments.
El Ibrahimi accused the health ministry and government of unilateral decision-making, bypassing social partners in critical reforms. He warned that restructuring plans, including the integration of health professionals into new governance structures such as blood and pharmaceutical agencies, could impact over 70,000 health workers without their input.
Health professionals reject the ministry’s approach, arguing that past unilateral decisions have failed. They demand the full and urgent implementation of the July 23 agreement, particularly in maintaining public sector employment status, centralized salaries, and key guarantees within the civil service framework.
Unions have warned they will not attend the scheduled February 25 meeting if it fails to address core issues. In a separate statement, the national health sector coordination expressed outrage at the ministry’s unilateral approach and called on the minister to take full responsibility for swiftly and comprehensively implementing the agreement before it is too late.
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