Moroccan Health Sector Strike Over Wage Dispute
Medical staff in Morocco have launched a general strike, demanding the government honor previous agreements regarding wage payments from the state budget.
The Moroccan health sector is facing significant unrest as the National Health Union, affiliated with the Democratic Confederation of Labour, announced a general strike and a boycott of upcoming meetings with the Ministry of Health.
The protest stems from concerns over the government's failure to uphold the July 23, 2024, agreement, which stipulated that health professionals' wages should be paid directly from the state budget.
In response, Minister of Health Younes Bejjigo stated that the civil servant status of health workers is legally protected, emphasizing that there are no plans to alter the current wage structure.
The strike coincides with ongoing challenges within the Moroccan healthcare system, including equipment shortages, poor service quality, and regional disparities in medical care.
The sector also faces a critical shortage of personnel, with the current ratio standing at 7 doctors per 10,000 people, significantly lower than the World Health Organization's recommended average of 23 per 10,000.