Morocco Affirms its Commitment to Achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030 in Tokyo
The Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amin Tehrawi, reaffirmed Morocco’s solid commitment to advancing universal health coverage during his participation in the high-level forum held in Tokyo on Saturday, organized in partnership with the Japanese government, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization. Morocco’s presence at this exclusive gathering of a limited number of countries reflects the rising international recognition of the Moroccan model in expanding social protection and the deep reforms in the health sector under the guidance of King Mohammed VI.
During his address, the minister clarified that the path towards comprehensive health coverage is no longer merely a political slogan, but a coherent reform program that has yielded tangible results, including achieving an obligatory coverage rate of approximately 88% of the country’s population. He noted that this progress has been accompanied by significant enhancements in financing the health system, with the budget of the Ministry of Health increasing by more than fourfold between 2010 and 2026, reaching 42.4 billion dirhams, equivalent to 8.8% of the general budget.
In this context, Tehrawi emphasized that Morocco is committed to constructing a health model based on more effective governance, improving service quality, and expanding partnerships between the public and private sectors, alongside innovating financing mechanisms. He also affirmed the kingdom’s readiness to expedite reforms ahead of the global meeting on universal health coverage in 2027, aiming to achieve the central goal of universal health coverage by 2030 through modernizing health infrastructures, reducing financial burdens on citizens, and enhancing human resources.
On the sidelines of the forum, the minister held bilateral meetings with partners from Mexico, Indonesia, and the African Centre for Disease Control, where discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in the fields of pharmaceutical industries, digitizing health services, and public procurement, as well as exchanging experiences in implementing social protection policies.
The forum also witnessed the launch of the “Knowledge Centre for Universal Health Coverage,” aimed at supporting countries in translating their political commitments into achievable executive programs, opening new horizons for enhancing international cooperation in this vital area.
