Health Reform: More Doctors, but a Persistent Shortage
The number of doctors is rising in Morocco, but the country still faces a major human-resources shortage against WHO standards and the needs of health reform.
In Morocco, the total number of doctors increased significantly over this period. Combining the public and private sectors, the number of doctors rose from 23,990 in 2018 to 28,558 in 2022, an overall increase of nearly 19%.
This progress reflects Morocco’s efforts as part of the reform of its health system, which places particular emphasis on human resources. The new strategy highlights the importance of investing in the training, legal protection and motivation of health professionals.
Draft Law 09.22, on the essential guarantees granted to human resources in the health professions, reflects this commitment. It aims to strengthen legal-protection guarantees for human resources working in territorial health groups, while providing for mandatory continuing training programs and a motivating and effective remuneration system.
However, the recent report by the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) on the “Effectiveness of the Right to Health” highlights persistent challenges, particularly the shortage of human resources. According to WHO standards, Morocco would need 32,000 doctors and 65,000 nurses to meet the needs of its population.
Indeed, despite the progress made, Morocco remains below the ratio recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2022, Morocco’s ratio stood at 7.3 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants, while the WHO recommends 15.3 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants.