Morocco Reiterates in Kigali Commitment to African Health Sovereignty
Morocco reaffirmed on Wednesday in Kigali its commitment to African health sovereignty and to the progressive and inclusive implementation of the African Medicines Agency (AMA).
Speaking at the 2nd ordinary session of the Conference of the States Parties to the AMA Treaty, held on June 2-4, Minister of Health and Social Protection Amine Tahraoui hailed the creation of the Agency as a major step towards the continent's health sovereignty, enabling better access to safe, effective and quality medicines.
To Morocco, this continental momentum is a source of inspiration and an opportunity for regulatory convergence,' the Minister emphasized, stressing the importance of an approach tailored to the institutional and regulatory realities of each country, based on listening, consultation and respect for national priorities.
Tahraoui then called for the progressive harmonization of regulatory frameworks, the establishment of regular consultation mechanisms between national authorities and AMA, and the reinforcement of technical and human capacities on a continental scale.
Tahraoui also pointed out that by end 2024, the Kingdom had achieved 88% coverage in compulsory health insurance, adding that 11 million people benefited from direct state support.
A $4.2 billion health infrastructure modernization program is underway, he stated, adding that the number of university hospital centers will go from 6 to 12, while 79 new hospitals are under construction, and 1,439 primary health centers are being renovated, 70% of them in rural areas.
On the industrial front, Tahraoui noted that Morocco is the continent's second-largest pharmaceutical producer, with 56 industrial units covering 70% of national needs and exports to over 45 African countries.
With regard to the appointment of AMA's future Director General, Tahraoui spoke of Morocco's respect to the institutional process currently underway and full confidence in the competent commission to carry it out, in all transparency and impartiality.
(MAP: 04 June 2025)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Morocco World
Morocco Ranked 91st Globally in Life Expectancy
Morocco ranks 91st globally in life expectancy, with citizens living on average to 75.68 years, according to recent statistics compiled by Worldometers. This figure reflects relatively favorable health conditions in the country, though there is still room for improvement, especially for the aging population. Across the African continent, life expectancy remains low in many countries. However, North Africa stands out with slightly better outcomes. The average in the subregion is about 74 years, with Algeria and Tunisia leading at 76 years each, followed by Morocco at 75, Libya at 73, and Egypt close behind at 72. Despite this progress, these numbers remain well below those of Western Europe, where life expectancy commonly exceeds 80 years — what many health experts consider a global standard. Life expectancy is often used as a measure of a population's overall health, quality of life, and access to essential services like nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation. The healthier a population's diet and lifestyle, the longer its expected lifespan. At the top of the global rankings, Monaco holds the highest life expectancy at 87 years, with Saint Martin and Hong Kong following at 86-years. These are relatively small, affluent territories with strong healthcare infrastructure and high living standards. Read also: Among Asian countries, Japan and South Korea stand out, with average life spans reaching 85 years. In the Arab world, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar report the highest life expectancy at 83 years—leading the region in this metric. In contrast, much of sub-Saharan Africa struggles with significantly lower life expectancies, largely due to chronic issues like food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, poor sanitation, and persistent conflict. At the lower end of the chart are countries such as Somalia, life expectancy is around 59 years. Central African Republic, Lesotho, and South Sudan follow closely at 58 years, while Chad and Nigeria rank at the bottom, with figures below 55 years. This wide disparity—up to 25 years difference between the highest- and lowest-ranking countries—underscores the deep inequalities in global health outcomes and access to essential resources. On a global level, the statistics also note a disparity in life expectancy between genders, with women having a life expectancy of 76.2 years on average, while men are expected to live for 70.9 years, resulting in a gap of approximately 5.3 years. Tags: MoroccoMorocco life expectancyNorth Africa
Maroc
2 days ago
- Maroc
Morocco Reiterates in Kigali Commitment to African Health Sovereignty
Morocco reaffirmed on Wednesday in Kigali its commitment to African health sovereignty and to the progressive and inclusive implementation of the African Medicines Agency (AMA). Speaking at the 2nd ordinary session of the Conference of the States Parties to the AMA Treaty, held on June 2-4, Minister of Health and Social Protection Amine Tahraoui hailed the creation of the Agency as a major step towards the continent's health sovereignty, enabling better access to safe, effective and quality medicines. To Morocco, this continental momentum is a source of inspiration and an opportunity for regulatory convergence,' the Minister emphasized, stressing the importance of an approach tailored to the institutional and regulatory realities of each country, based on listening, consultation and respect for national priorities. Tahraoui then called for the progressive harmonization of regulatory frameworks, the establishment of regular consultation mechanisms between national authorities and AMA, and the reinforcement of technical and human capacities on a continental scale. Tahraoui also pointed out that by end 2024, the Kingdom had achieved 88% coverage in compulsory health insurance, adding that 11 million people benefited from direct state support. A $4.2 billion health infrastructure modernization program is underway, he stated, adding that the number of university hospital centers will go from 6 to 12, while 79 new hospitals are under construction, and 1,439 primary health centers are being renovated, 70% of them in rural areas. On the industrial front, Tahraoui noted that Morocco is the continent's second-largest pharmaceutical producer, with 56 industrial units covering 70% of national needs and exports to over 45 African countries. With regard to the appointment of AMA's future Director General, Tahraoui spoke of Morocco's respect to the institutional process currently underway and full confidence in the competent commission to carry it out, in all transparency and impartiality. (MAP: 04 June 2025)
Morocco World
27-05-2025
- Morocco World
Measles Cases Drop 80% in Morocco as Vaccination Coverage Reaches 95%
Doha – Morocco has recorded an 80% decrease in measles cases compared to the peak registered 16 weeks ago, according to Health and Social Protection Minister Amine Tahraoui. Speaking at the House of Representatives in Rabat on Monday, Tahraoui announced that the national weekly incidence rate has fallen to just one case per 100,000 people. This reduction comes as a result of an intensive vaccination campaign implemented by the ministry following the initial outbreak. The campaign has successfully pushed the national vaccination coverage rate above 95% among children under 18 years old, meeting the threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The health ministry has been working since the first cases appeared to develop a comprehensive national plan to combat the spread of measles, accompanied by various field measures. As of May 16, authorities had verified the vaccination status of more than 10.76 million children under 18, representing 98.57% of the target population. Through this process, 754,202 unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children were identified. Through a large-scale field mobilization, 586,912 of these children have now been vaccinated, achieving a completion rate of approximately 78%. This has helped reduce the vaccination gap and limit the spread of the epidemic. The campaign has enabled the administration of a total of 801,702 doses of measles vaccine, including booster and preventive doses. Read also: 'Bouhemroun': Measles Outbreak Claims Lives in Morocco's Remote Regions The recent measles outbreak in Morocco hit concerning levels. WHO reported that from October 1, 2023, to April 13, 2025, the North African country saw over 25,000 suspected measles cases across all 12 regions, including 13,706 confirmed infections and 184 deaths. The resurgence of measles, which had almost disappeared in Morocco, was largely attributed to the rise of anti-vaccine sentiments. Health officials noted that the global anti-vaccination movement influenced Moroccan parents, despite the country having measles vaccination programs in place since the 1960s. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination rates decreased due to lockdowns and fears of infection in hospitals. Some parents developed a 'vaccine phobia' following the pandemic, requiring health workers to conduct interviews explaining the benefits of vaccination. The government responded with awareness campaigns in schools and public warnings about false information spreading on social media, including misleading claims that the measles vaccine was actually a fourth dose of the COVID vaccine. The Ministry of Health plans to maintain these gains by continuing campaigns and awareness activities, taking into account the local specificities of different regions across the country. The ministry also mentioned strengthening the technical, managerial, and communication skills of health personnel, as well as accelerating the digitization of the information system, currently in a pilot phase, to create a national vaccination registry. Tags: measlesMeasles Vaccination
