The National Council of Dentists in Morocco has warned against the growing spread of illegal dental practice in the country, describing it as a direct threat to public health due to the serious medical, physical, psychological, and financial harm it can cause, in some cases even leading to death.
The warning came during a national conference organized by the National Council of Dentists on Saturday evening in Rabat under the theme: “Illegal Practice of Dentistry in Morocco: Violation of the Law and a Threat to Public Health.”
The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, national and international organizations, professional bodies, legal and healthcare experts, as well as media representatives.
In his opening remarks, Mohamed Sedira, President of the National Council of Dentists, stated that the initiative falls within the council’s “national and ethical responsibility” to raise public awareness and sound the alarm over the expansion of this phenomenon. He called for collective mobilization involving public authorities, healthcare professionals, the media, and civil society in order to protect citizens’ health and preserve the dignity of the profession.
Sedira stressed that Morocco has made significant progress in reforming its healthcare system in recent years, particularly through the expansion of social protection, the strengthening of healthcare infrastructure, and the development of human resources. He noted that Morocco currently graduates more than 1,500 dentists annually from 12 dental schools, alongside the growing momentum in the construction and inauguration of new public and private healthcare institutions across the North African country.
The conference featured several scientific and institutional presentations, including an intervention by Ibrahim Ouakhzane, Director of Regulation and Litigation at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, who addressed the legal and regulatory dimensions related to combating illegal dental practice. Hafid Hachiri, representative of the World Health Organization in Morocco, also emphasized the importance of ensuring public health safety and strengthening governance within the healthcare sector.
Additionally, Sedira presented a detailed overview of the legal framework governing illegal dental practice, while Sophia Haithami, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry in Casablanca, highlighted the serious health consequences of such practices on patients, supported by scientific and field data.
In the same context, the National Federation of Dentists in Morocco, through a speech delivered by Mohamed Moussafir on behalf of the federation’s president, stressed that combating illegal dental practice is no longer merely an internal professional matter, but rather “a critical societal issue” requiring the coordinated efforts of judicial, security, healthcare, and professional authorities.
The federation underlined that illegal dental practice has evolved from a simple “encroachment on the profession” into what it described as “an ongoing crime” against public health security. It warned about the dangers posed by unregulated facilities lacking basic hygiene and sterilization standards, which can lead to the spread of serious infectious diseases, severe complications, and permanent health damage.
The federation also called for tougher judicial rulings and stricter prosecution measures against individuals impersonating licensed dentists, arguing that light penalties and small fines are no longer sufficient deterrents. It further urged authorities to activate regional joint inspection committees, immediately shut down illegal clinics, and prosecute technicians exceeding their professional scope by performing medical procedures inside patients’ mouths.
The National Federation of Dentists reaffirmed its commitment to fully engaging in what it described as a “national battle” against illegal dental practices, calling for a comprehensive national strategy based on strict judicial enforcement, field monitoring, and broad public awareness campaigns.
The conference also included recorded video messages from international dental organizations and figures, including Nicolas Charkov, President of the International Dental Federation (FDI), Abdelrahman Ezri, Secretary-General of the Arab Dentists Union, as well as professional representatives from France, Egypt, and Tunisia. Their messages emphasized the urgent need to confront illegal dental practice due to the risks it poses to citizens’ health and public safety.
Participants also highlighted Morocco’s growing international standing within regional and global dental organizations, stressing the responsibility to preserve the country’s image and the credibility of its healthcare system, particularly in light of warnings issued by certain diplomatic missions regarding unregulated practices in the sector.
The conference further featured media reports on the dangers of illegal dental practice, alongside a moving testimony from a Moroccan expatriate victim who described the severe health and psychological suffering, as well as the high financial costs, she endured after being deceived by an individual falsely claiming to be a licensed dentist through misleading advertisements.
Representatives of professional, trade union, legal, and human rights organizations unanimously called for stricter monitoring, stronger enforcement of the law, and expanded public awareness efforts, while urging all state institutions and social actors to engage in combating this phenomenon.
At the conclusion of the conference, the National Council of Dentists reaffirmed its commitment to continuing awareness, advocacy, and coordination efforts with all stakeholders in order to protect citizens, uphold professional ethics, and ensure safe and proper dental practice that strengthens confidence in Morocco’s national healthcare system.
