Here follows the full text of the Royal message read out by health minister, Houcine El Ouardi at the opening session.


"Praise be to God
May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me pleasure to send this message to the participants in the Second National Health Conference, which is being held under my high patronage. I have a special thought, in this regard, for my venerable grandfather, His late Majesty King Mohammed V - may he rest in peace - who presided in person over the First National Health Conference, following Morocco’s independence.

Since that first Conference, which was held in 1959, there have been many important achievements in just as many areas. A large number of general and specialized healthcare facilities - both military and civilian -as well as local healthcare centers have been set up. Similarly, healthcare services in rural areas have been reinforced and upgraded as part of a practical plan developed to this end; the safe maternity program and the national immunization program have been launched, along with programs relating to the provision of medicines and the reduction of their price, the promotion of the use of generic drugs and the provision of healthcare services to people with special needs.

A basic compulsory insurance scheme has also been created, together with a medical assistance program, known as RAMED, which is based on the principles of solidarity with needy segments of the population. Many social care facilities have also been developed, particularly in the framework of the National Initiative for Human Development.
In the area of training, a number of schools of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy as well as university hospitals have been set up. Medical centers and institutes which train health professionals and health care administrators have also been established and their training capacity has been gradually increased.

As far as legislation is concerned, several statutory and regulatory lawshave been passed, mostly in connection with healthcare coverage, the healthcare system and the provision of healthcare services. These laws define the responsibilities of the stakeholders involved in the health sector, namely state authorities, local governments, private health facilities and civil society organizations. They also explain the concept of the national health map and of regional healthcare plans and how to prepare them.
Ladies and Gentlemen,

These are significant achievements and yet they still fall short of our ambitions in this area. I should, therefore, like to take this opportunity   to reaffirm my resolve to make the development of the health sector one of our key projects. Indeed, access to healthcare services - which is enshrined in the Kingdom’s new Constitution - is crucially important for a dignified life and for the achievement of the comprehensive, sustainable human development I wish for the country.

Today’s conference - which illustrates the merits of the participatory approach we have adopted in tackling the nation’s vital issues - should be seen not so much as an opportunity to assess achievements, but rather as a fundamental step towards enhancing responsibility and public spirit in order to develop a realistic, applicable national charter that makes the citizen the foremost concern in the health system. This charter should seek to safeguard accomplishments, redress shortcomings and find ways to overcome constraints and plan for the future. A comprehensive, innovative approach should be used to this end, the ultimate objective being the provision of efficient, equitable and high quality healthcare services to all citizens.

I am aware of the constraints faced. They are mainly due to the limited resources available on the one hand, and the ever-growing, yet legitimate ,expectations of the citizens, on the other. However, I am confident that the wide-ranging, constructive debate likely to take place at this important conference can contribute to forging a broad consensus on the major challenges facing usas well as on healthcare priorities.  Moreover, it should contribute to giving effective answers not only to the actual fulfillment of the constitutional right to treatment and care, but also to issues relating to healthcare coverage, health security, good governance in the health sector and the promotion of medical,psychological and mental health care for people with special needs,as well as for the elderly. Just as important is the need to explore optimal funding mechanisms at both national and international levels, to develop the mutual insurance schemes and to reduce inter-regional disparities in order to ensure equitable access to healthcare.

I wish, on this occasion, to reiterate the special importance I attach to the optimal implementation of the medical assistance scheme. I also want to say how important it is to overcome all obstacles and to streamline and simplify procedures in order to make sure as many needy people as possible can benefit from it.

During your fruitful discussions, I hope you will stress the need to incorporate the health dimension effectively and consistently in all public policies, using a new local development approach which fully takes into account the citizens’ needs. This principle is at the heart of the deep institutional reform concerning the advanced regionalization we are determined to implement across the Kingdom, starting with our cherished southern provinces.

I am sure you realize that the most important element for the optimal implementation of the desired national health charter is the active, constructive involvement of all the stakeholders concerned. Indeed, this would enhance the citizens' confidence in the health system and contribute to promoting complementarity, partnership and institutional action involving the public and private sectors and civil society, at both the national and international levels. In this connection, I wish to commend civil society organizations’ diligent, praiseworthy efforts. We also need, in this regard, to benefit from international best practices and to keep in mind the World Health Organization's advice regarding the achievement of universal health coverage.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I firmly believe human resources play a crucial role in the success of any reform. I therefore urge you to remember the importance of the human resources involved in this vital sector, giving them all the attention they deserve. The aim is to provide them with good quality training so that they may keep up with scientific and technological progress in the areas of treatment andprevention as well as in the management and governance of the health sector, in accordance with international criteria. Efforts should also be made to ensure we have a sufficient number of health professionals in all disciplines and medical fields to meet growing demand for healthcare services. We also have to encourage research and innovation in medicine and pharmacology as well as in our drug manufacturing industry.

I look forward to hearing the conclusions and constructive recommendations put forward by your conference and pray that Almighty God grant you success for the benefit of citizens.

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh."