Morocco Allocates 2% of GDP to Social Spending
Analysis of Morocco's social effort, from direct assistance and AMO expansion to support for vulnerable households and sustainability challenges for the health system.
On May 27, 2025, Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch announced that Morocco now devotes 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to social spending, placing the country second in Africa in this area. This initiative is part of the royal project to generalize social protection, aimed at establishing a modern, fair and solidarity-based social state. But what are the concrete implications of this financial commitment for Morocco's health system?
An Ambitious Social Transformation
The direct social assistance program received a budget envelope of 25 billion dirhams in 2024, with a projected increase to 29 billion by 2026. This financing aims to support around 4 million households, or nearly 12 million Moroccans, by offering benefits such as free care and hospitalization in public health facilities. (Telquel.ma)
In addition, compulsory health coverage (AMO) has been extended to all Moroccan families, including more than 4 million vulnerable households integrated into a non-contributory scheme. The state covers these families' contributions for an annual amount of around 9.5 billion dirhams.
Impact on the Health System
From the launch of this system through March 2025, more than 14 million medical files were registered with the CNSS, including more than 300,000 related to chronic or costly diseases. Nearly 12 million files were processed for a total amount exceeding 17 billion dirhams, according to the head of government.
The large-scale integration of self-employed and independent workers into the health system is also notable. Thanks to the adoption of 28 implementing decrees, nearly 3.5 million people now benefit from medical coverage adapted to their income. Through April, more than 400 million files had been submitted, with an average of 2,255 per day.
Challenges and Outlook
Although this progress is significant, several challenges remain:
- Financial sustainability: Covering contributions for vulnerable households represents annual expenditure of 9.5 billion dirhams. It is crucial to ensure that this burden is sustainable over the long term.
- Shortage of medical personnel: Morocco faces a significant human-resources deficit in the health sector. In 2024, the country had around 32,665 doctors, or a ratio of one doctor for every 1,156 inhabitants, well below the threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is 2.5 per 1,000 inhabitants.
- Effectiveness evaluation: It is essential to put evaluation mechanisms in place to measure the real impact of this spending on citizens' health and adjust policies accordingly.
Recommendations
To maximize the impact of these social investments on public health, the following actions are recommended:
- Strengthening health infrastructure: Invest in building and equipping health facilities, particularly in rural areas.
- Training and recruitment of medical personnel: Increase the number of qualified health professionals to meet growing demand.
- Implementation of information systems: Develop digital tools for monitoring and evaluating health programs.
- Awareness and health education: Launch campaigns to inform citizens about their rights and available services.