Morocco, UK Seek to Boost Cooperation in Healthcare Sector

Rabat – Participants of a British-Moroccan webinar discussed the kingdom’s flexible healthcare system, the notable public-private partnerships, and the increase of telemedicine services in the country.

The British Chamber of Commerce for Morocco (BritCham) organized on Thursday a webinar titled “Morocco’s health sector, between challenges and ambitions,” to highlight Morocco’s health sector and the opportunities it offers to British and other foreign investors.

During the meeting, Azeddine Ibrahimi, professor of medical biotechnology at Mohammed V University in Rabat, spoke about the kingdom’s geographical position, which makes it a gateway to African markets.

Ibrahimi also said that the increased use of the English language in the country would enable British healthcare actors to easily integrate in Morocco.

He also highlighted the major projects Morocco has carried out in recent years in the health sector, one of them being the industrial manufacturing unit of COVID-19 vaccines.

In January, King Mohammed VI launched the construction works for the establishment of a manufacturing plant for COVID-19 and other vaccines in the province of Benslimane, in the Casablanca-Settat region.

The industrial unit, called SENSYO Pharmatech, seeks to position Morocco as a self-sufficient powerhouse in vaccine manufacturing on the African continent.

Professor Ibrahimi also highlighted the country’s aim to promote the “Made in Morocco” brand in terms of vaccines and medicines, recalling the interest given to the production of drugs from biotechnology through the promotion of scientific research.

Meanwhile, co-founder of Southbridge A&I Hassan Belkhayat shed light on the significant growth of start-ups operating in the healthcare sector thanks to the country’s business-friendly environment.

He also spoke about the evolution of the regulatory framework, particularly the law on telemedicine and the establishment of the Mohammed VI Fund for Investment aimed at encouraging innovation and scientific research in several fields.

President of the Moroccan Association of Telemedicine and eHealth Hassan Ghazal pointed to the need to intensify training programs for health professionals to boost their skills and meet international standards.

He further noted that British healthcare actors could contribute to this training, given their expertise in the field.

Morocco and the UK have historically shared friendly political and economic ties, and cooperate in several fields including trade.

In 2018, Morocco’s exports to the UK added up to about $1.2 billion, while British imports stood at $1.3 billion.