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Rabat – Widespread outrage erupted on social media on Wednesday after police dispersed a protest by health professionals in Rabat using water cannons.
The protest, which saw medical professionals marching toward the parliament to protest the government’s failure to honor a previously signed agreement with the Ministry of Health, was abruptly halted by security forces, reportedly resulting in numerous arrests.
Videos shared online showed chaotic scenes as police deployed water cannons against the protesting medical professionals. In several clips, demonstrators can be seen holding banners and chanting slogans before being drenched by high-pressure water jets, which caused them to scatter in all directions.
These videos have sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many criticizing the authorities for what they saw as a heavy-handed approach.
“So that’s what you get for expressing your views through protest??” a social media user questioned. Another Moroccan netizen described the incident as “catastrophic,” asking, “where is freedom of expression? Is this how we treat people that decide to study to save lives???”
Today’s escalation follows a series of strikes and marches by health professionals protesting what they described as the government’s failure to honor a previously signed agreement with the Ministry of Health. This prompted the eight health sector unions to announce their return to protests and the implementation of their previously suspended action plan.
The unions have expressed their dismay at the government’s scheduling of three decrees related to the health sector without their involvement. These decrees pertain to the implementation of laws regarding the establishment of territorial health groups, the Moroccan Agency for Medicines, and the Moroccan Agency for Blood and its Derivatives.
The National Coordination strongly condemned what it described as the government’s and its head’s “authoritarianism” and disregard for the principle of consensus. They demanded the withdrawal of these decrees and the full implementation of all provisions of the signed agreement, both material and legal. The Coordination warned that the government’s approach threatens public health and social peace in the health sector.
The coordination organized a three-day nationwide strike from July 9 to 11, with emergency and intensive care departments being the exceptions. Further strikes are planned for July 16, 17, and 18.
During this period, the health unions have decided to continue boycotting health program reports, campaigns, and meetings with the administration. Starting Monday, July 15, the unions will implement a comprehensive boycott of all health programs, mobile units, medical caravans, elective surgeries (except for urgent cases), specialized medical examinations, and the collection of fees for services rendered, in addition to administrative on-call duties.
This development comes in the wake of another crisis involving medical and pharmacy students, who have been participating in a nationwide boycott of training and exams to protest the government’s decision to shorten the duration of studies from seven to six years.
