Rabat – The World Bank announced on Tuesday that its Board of Directors approved a new $500 million loan, seeking to contribute to financing Morocco’s health and social protection reforms.
The bank announced the news in a press release, saying that the loan is aimed at “improving protection of the most vulnerable populations against health and climate risks.”
It also seeks to boost resilience against catastrophic events, the press release said, adding that the budget is the second in a series of three operations that support Morocco’s reform program.
“Morocco, like many other countries, continues to face a series of shocks, and the most vulnerable populations are the ones most impacted,” the press release quoted Jesko Hentschel, country director for the Maghreb and Malta at the World Bank as saying.
Emphasizing the importance of the partnership between the bank and Morocco, Hentschel stressed that the institution’s contribution is key despite the great resilience shown by Moroccans,
“But to support them in this effort, the Government will continue to expand health insurance coverage, promote greater access to affordable health care countrywide, strenghten governance in the healthcare sector, support the implementation of the direct social benefits program, and improve protection against climatic risks,” Hentschel stressed.
The World Bank also cited the efforts made by the Moroccan government in the health sector, listing the implementation of reforms to allow eligible citizens to access healthcare through the Mandatory Health Insurance (AMO).
“For example, the number of people eligible for AMO (Mandatory Health Insurance – Assurance Maladie Obligatoire) has more than doubled, from 10 million (benefiting from RAMED, the medical assistance plan) to 22 million (eligible for AMO-Tadamon and AMO-TNS),” the bank said.
The bank further clarified that its new loan will support reforms to create and implement the direct social benefits program that King Mohammed VI launched in October 2023.
The bank described the program as a “crucial step in the harmonization and expansion of the social protection system.”
The bank concluded its statement, pledging renewed support for Morocco’s social protection and health reforms.
The health care sector has been facing a score of challenges, with many reports calling on the government to tackle the situation.
The 2023 Court of Audits report listed a series of challenges, including the alarming low number of health workers in Morocco’s health facilities.
As of the end of 2021, the number of health workers per 1,000 capita stood at 1.64, way below the 4.45 minimum necessary to reach sustainable development goals set by the United Nations (UN), the report warned.
