Rabat – Morocco’s Ministry of Health has reached an agreement with the National Commission of Intern and Resident Doctors (CNIR) after weeks of strikes in public hospitals, settling disputes over pay and working conditions, according to a ministry press release.
The deal, finalized during a September 22 meeting in Rabat, grants non-contractual doctors a monthly salary increase of MAD 1,500, retroactive to January 2025. The pay raise will appear on the agenda of the next government council, with payments to be expedited once the measure is published in the Official Bulletin.
The agreement also addresses the mandatory service period for contractual residents, currently set at eight years. The reduced service requirement will be determined based on statistical studies to ensure sufficient numbers of specialized physicians remain in the public sector while maintaining fairness across generations.
Both parties agreed to revise on-call and standby allowances, which doctors had described as inadequate, with changes expected to take effect first in university hospitals. Interns and residents will also be included in the variable pay system once it is implemented in regional health groups.
On social protection, non-contractual doctors will now gain access to mandatory health insurance (AMO) and coverage for workplace accidents and occupational diseases. The commission emphasized the importance of maintaining free hospital care in university centers and eventually expanding it to regional health facilities.
For the transition period, the ministry and CNIR will develop joint scenarios to safeguard gains and ensure fairness. Additionally, internship and residency entrance exams will only be held after the publication of the final decree, guaranteeing transparency and equal opportunity for all candidates.
The CNIR welcomed the agreement as a significant step toward improving working conditions, while stressing the need to monitor implementation closely and swiftly address any remaining issues.
