The projects touch on the improvement of the Ibn Sina Hospital and University Center (CHU) in Rabat, the construction of eight provincial hospitals, the construction of a regional hospital center in Oujda and the construction of 11 community hospitals, noted the minister who was presenting the draft budget of his department before the Committee of Educational, Cultural and Social Affairs at the House of Advisors.

The action program also provides for expanding basic medical coverage with a view to achieving universal health coverage by the end of 2022, strengthening national health and disease control programs, mobilizing human resources, and consolidating governance of the health sector.

Ait Taleb said that the budget allocated to his department amounts to MAD 19.774 bn for the year 2021. This represents a budget increase of MAD 1.090 billion or a 5.8% increase compared to the current budget year.

The budget allocated to the ministry is distributed according to the budget programs of human resources, capacity building of the health system, programming and coordination, reproductive health, maternal health and people with special needs, the official said.

It also includes epidemiological monitoring, health security, disease prevention and control, primary, pre-hospital and hospital health care, continuity of care and maintenance of health infrastructure and equipment.

The minister also reviewed the various axes of health system reform, namely the strengthening of public investment and public-private partnership, the promotion of the national drug industry, institutional reform and proactive management of health programs.

Ait Taleb also recalled that 69% of the Moroccan population enjoys basic health coverage as of 2019, while the Medical Assistance Plan (Ramed) covered more than 16.5 million people as of September.

Public hospitals and university hospitals have offered more than seven million services taking into account the measures taken in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

On the ministry's achievements during the 2019-2020 period, Ait Taleb highlighted the increase of clinical capacity by some 1,696 beds, health protection in rural areas and the reduction in prices of nearly 1,000 medications.