Rabat – Faced with growing challenges in the country’s public health system and continued disregard for their demands, Morocco’s interns and resident doctors have announced another national strike.
The strike, set for December 10 and 12, aims to push for urgent reforms while ensuring patient safety by maintaining emergency and critical care services.
In a statement, the National Committee of Interns and Residents (CNIR) expressed their frustration with the lack of progress in addressing the sector’s pressing issues.
“We are fighting for our rights and dignity, but this is also about the right of every Moroccan to quality healthcare. These struggles are not just ours; they reflect a failing system that needs immediate intervention,” the committee said.
A struggle for systemic change
The strike will specifically target non-critical hospital services, with academic and training activities continuing as usual. The committee sees the strike as an opportunity to highlight broader systemic problems rather than a disruption to their medical mission.
“Striking is not about abandoning our responsibilities,” the statement clarified. “It’s about pushing for a better environment for training and patient care, one that benefits healthcare professionals and the citizens we serve.”
The decision comes amid increasing frustration over working conditions and the lack of dialogue with authorities. Interns and resident doctors accuse the Ministries of Health and Higher Education of failing to address years of mounting concerns.
“Our patience is not infinite,” the committee warned. “We will no longer tolerate a system that devalues its medical professionals while compromising the dignity and health of Moroccan citizens.”
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The committee also urged solidarity among interns, residents, and other healthcare professionals, noting that collective action is crucial to achieving meaningful change.
They called on colleagues across the country to stand together and participate in the strike, describing it as a “responsible and legitimate step in the fight for dignity and justice.”
Despite the frustrations, the committee remains hopeful that the strike will serve as a wake-up call for authorities to open serious and constructive dialogue. They stressed that their demands are not new but long overdue.
The committee’s statement concluded with a powerful call to action: “What cannot be achieved through struggle will only demand more struggle. Together, we will uphold the dignity of healthcare professionals and the rights of all Moroccans to a fair and functioning public health system.”
As Morocco’s public health sector faces unprecedented strain, this strike reflects not only the plight of healthcare workers but also the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address systemic failures.
The upcoming days will test the commitment of both medical professionals and policymakers to finding a path forward.
