Spanish Government Invests €500,000 to Improve Family Medicine in Morocco

Doha – The Spanish government, through the CSAI Foundation under the Ministry of Health, has allocated €500,000 to enhance family medicine in Morocco over the coming years, as reported by The Objective, a Spanish newspaper.

The funds, fully subsidized by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were granted in November 2021 with a 36-month execution period from February 1, 2022, to January 31, 2025. The project officially launched in March 2024.

According to the grant resolution, obtained by The Objective through a request via the Transparency Portal, the purpose of this aid is to support the Directorate of Hospitals and Health Centers of Morocco (DHSA) in implementing and financing activities within the project. The funds will also cover operating and structural expenses of the CSAI Foundation.

The CSAI Foundation’s website explains that the main activities planned for this project aim to strengthen the managerial and clinical skills of health professionals, implement an organization and management system in health centers, and support reforms to improve the quality of primary care provided.

These objectives will be achieved through courses, seminars, workshops, exchanges, and internships in Spain and Morocco, as outlined in the project report accessed by The Objective.

The project’s overall goal is to support the Moroccan Ministry of Health in developing family and community health. The planned activities, for which €500,000 has been allocated, include organizing online and in-person training sessions, visits to health structures in both countries, and meetings and exchanges of experiences between Moroccan and Spanish professionals.

The grant resolution breaks down the funds as follows; €340,000 for project expenses to be financed, including €80,000 for the creation of an expert committee from Morocco and Spain to support and accompany the development of family medicine in Morocco.

The grant holds €200,000 for strengthening the capacities of professionals in selected health centers in the intervention regions, and €60,000 for the development and implementation of a communication plan to facilitate the integration of necessary reforms for the development of family medicine in Morocco.

Additionally, €50,000 has been allocated for operational and structural expenses, covering general administrative, personnel, and management costs not directly attributable to any specific activity.

Furthermore, €2,000 has been allocated for auditing, €100,000 for personnel, and €8,000 for a final external evaluation. These funds are in addition to the €700,000 granted in 2016 for the “Averroes” project, aimed at developing and improving family medicine in 20 health centers across four Moroccan regions; Casablanca-Settat, Marrakech-Safi, Souss-Massa, and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima.

Morocco is attempting to emulate the Spanish family medicine model, having only announced the creation of this specialty in 2023. The project report by AECID highlights the challenges faced by Moroccan family medicine, including a shortage of doctors. There are 1.51 healthcare professionals per 1,000 inhabitants, compared to the WHO recommendation of 4.45. There is also an insufficient budget of 5.69%, while the WHO recommends between 10 and 12%.

Consequently, health centers struggle to manage high patient flows, hindering continuity and proper patient follow-up. The report also emphasizes the poor equipment in clinics for clinical practice, with small spaces and “dilapidated” buildings, often compromising privacy and confidentiality.