Morocco plans major expansion of medical education and health workforce by 2030

Health and Social Protection Minister Amine Tahraoui announced a significant expansion in Morocco’s medical education and healthcare workforce as part of the government’s long-term strategy to address chronic shortages in the sector.

In a written response to a parliamentary question about the implementation of the new health employment framework law, Tahraoui said the number of academic seats available for students entering Morocco’s medical, pharmacy, and dentistry schools increased by 88% in 2024 compared to 2019. He projected that 7,543 seats will be available annually by 2027 under a framework agreement signed in 2022 by the ministries of health, higher education, and finance.

Nursing and health technology training programs saw even steeper increases. Bachelor’s-level seats rose by 206% to reach 8,360 in 2024, while Master’s-level seats expanded by 353% between 2020 and 2024, reaching 680. The ministry aims to raise the total to 11,900 seats by 2029.

The minister also revealed plans to create 16 research teams and four Ph.D.-level research laboratories within higher institutes of nursing and health technologies. These initiatives are being developed in coordination with governmental and social partners.

Tahraoui announced an increase in the number of residency positions for medical specialists. Over the next five years, the number of contract-based residencies will grow by 100 per year, and non-contract residencies by 50 annually.

The ministry is also pushing to recruit more healthcare professionals to meet growing demands. Budgeted hiring positions have increased from 4,000 in 2019 to a projected 6,500 in 2025. Since late 2020, the ministry has also decentralized recruitment authority, allowing regional health offices to organize local hiring processes. This step aims to provide flexibility in addressing regional shortages of medical and nursing staff.

As part of broader reforms, the ministry is implementing innovative programs like the Regional Medical Program, which aims to equitably distribute medical expertise across regions and ensure greater mobility of healthcare workers. These efforts are designed to address the ongoing challenge of retaining medical professionals in remote and underserved areas.

The government is also seeking to attract foreign talent. Law 33.21, passed to allow foreign doctors to practice in Morocco, has already led to the employment of 580 foreign physicians. Tahraoui described this as a key step in addressing gaps in specialized medical fields.

Efforts to improve the appeal of the healthcare sector include ongoing dialogue with unions, salary improvements, and new incentives. These include assigning new medical graduates a higher starting index on the pay scale, increasing hazard pay for healthcare workers, and introducing variable compensation and bonuses for work in remote areas.

The reforms also aim to improve public-private sector synergy and recognize the value of healthcare professionals through new employment frameworks. These include financial incentives and better working conditions designed to retain talent and enhance service quality.

The minister concluded that boosting the number of qualified health professionals remains a top priority. He said that implementing the 2022 framework agreement will allow Morocco to increase its healthcare workforce from 17.4 professionals per 10,000 residents in 2022 to 45 per 10,000 by 2030—aligning with World Health Organization standards and the country’s sustainable development goals.