The Royal Institute for Strategic Studies revealed in a recent report that poverty rate in Morocco has increased, multiplying by 4 in two years, due to the 2020 health crisis, lockdowns and job losses.
Socio-economic measures, such as direct financial assistance to vulnerable populations, helped limit this rise, preventing an increase seven times greater, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP).
The poverty rate in Morocco relatively low from 1999 to 2018 due to improved living standards and the development of income-generating activities, especially in rural areas, under the National Initiative for Human Development
Between 2001 and 2014, the poverty rate in various sectors, like education and health, went down, thanks to government policies and actions under the National Initiative for Human Development, focusing on the most vulnerable areas.
Morocco’s position shifted from 15.5 to 9.2 in the World Hunger Index which reflects the country’s ongoing commitment to achieving sustainable development goals, especially Goal 2, which focuses on combating hunger.
When it comes to the health sector, Healthcare expenditures as a percentage of GDP have been consistently increasing over the past two decades.
However, these expenditures remain insufficient to address traditional illnesses, let alone severe conditions and emerging pandemics.
The report revealed that medical and paramedical supervision in Morocco (17 per 10,000 inhabitants, including 7 doctors and 10 nurses) is below the threshold set by the World Health Organization (25 per 10,000 inhabitants).
The health crisis of 2020 emphasized the need for a thorough reform of the national healthcare system, making the enhancement of human capital a crucial aspect in a context marked by widespread medical coverage.
According to the report, there is a shortage of hospital beds for every 10,000 residents. The current supply falls short of the significant demand caused by population growth and the project to expand social coverage.
Regarding mental health, the number of psychiatrists per 100,000 people is below the minimum threshold set by the World Health Organization (1.7 doctors per 100,000 people).
This is primarily due to the lack of dedicated infrastructure, neglect of mental health care, and an insufficient number of medical students specializing in psychiatry.
The report says that the country has a suicide rate lower than the global average, but its increasing trend deserves serious attention.
The document suggests establishing support services for vulnerable individuals, and raising awareness about the crucial role of family could help slow down the rise in suicide number.
Morocco saw an improvement in its ranking on the Youth Well-being Index between 2013 and 2017. However, the well-being of individuals under 25 is far from guaranteed.
Morocco’s position in the well-being index for individuals aged 60 and above is unsatisfactory, ranked 84th out of 96 countries. Yet the report notes that in Morocco, intergenerational solidarity is more developed than institutional solidarity
Morocco’s international standing in the World Happiness Index is not favorable, primarily due to a noted delay in implementing public policies aimed at enhancing citizens’ quality of life.
In 2010, Morocco was ranked 99th out of 156 countries, and in 2022, it slipped to 100th out of 146 countries.
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