Maroc

What are the goals of your visit to France in May 2006?

The Moroccan delegation will comprise the Directors of our three statutory health insurance bodies, namely:
- the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), the National Fund of the Organisms of Social Welfare (CNOPS) and the National Health Insurance Agency (ANAM).

It will also include representatives of our five main trade unions:

the Democratic Federation of Labour (FDT), Democratic Confederation of Labour (CDT), Moroccan Labour Union (UDT), National Labour Union of Morocco (UNTM), General Workers Union of Morocco (UGTM) and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM).

On 4 January 2005, under the chairmanship of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the five unions and the government of Mr Driss Jettou signed a charter instituting a Basic Medical Coverage Code.

In organising this study mission, Morocco has four goals.

This first is to involve the social partners in international cooperation on the reform of the Moroccan health insurance sector– one of the innovations of the administrative agreement signed on 26 September 2005 by the Moroccan and French governments. Our two countries in effect share many similarities in their approach to trade union relations.

The second goal is to share experience and know-how regarding social dialogue and the management of the consultation and negotiation process between the unions and the health insurance bodies.

The third goal is to share information and thoughts with the five trade unions about the strengths of the French system, the difficulties and challenges faced by our French colleagues and the different possibilities being explored. These discussions should encompass subjects such as tariffs, inspection systems, national agreements, financing, and health security and intelligence strategies.

The fourth goal is to establish twinning programmes and partnerships between Moroccan and French trade unions as a basis for long-term international cooperation on basic medical coverage.
These goals will be accomplished through meetings with representatives of the French Government, social security funds and trade unions, in order to identify tools, mechanisms and practices for consultation and negotiation in the area of social welfare and health insurance.

The process should allow us to draw on France’s experience in managing medical coverage, including practices to promote quality of health care, equity in health care delivery, medically-driven control of health expenditure and the gradual move towards a universal right to health care, capable of achieving the fine balance between affordability and quality.

What are the highlights of Franco-Moroccan cooperation in the area of health and social development?

All aspects of Franco-Moroccan cooperation are governed by the partnership agreement for cultural cooperation and development, signed by the prime ministers of the two countries on 25 July 2003.
The agreement establishes a process of cooperation involving the setting of goals and direction, selection of initiatives and projects, planning of long-term programmes, evaluation of outcomes, and triangular cooperation. It also provides for the creation of various institutional structures (in addition to the annual meeting of the two heads of government), including a partnership steering committee (COPP), various thematic and sectoral committees (CTS) and ad hoc committees, a French-Moroccan partnership forum and a cooperation incentive fund (Fonds incitatif de coopération). The CTS on "Sustainable Human Development" (which covers health, housing, water, the environment, employment, social development and social protection) is currently chaired by the Moroccan Health Minister who will pass the gavel to the Minister of the Environment in June 2006.
In the area of cooperation on health, two strategic priorities have been identified. The first is assistance in managing the health and social protection reform process, and the second, policy advocacy in the area of preventive health care, health promotion and the fight against diseases.
In the area of social development, three strategic priorities have been identified. The first concerns migration issues and migration-oriented development aid policies (codéveloppement) such as the promotion of rural tourism by fostering synergies between Moroccans living in France, Morocco’s Social Development Agency and the French Development Agency. The aim is to encourage Moroccans living in France to become involved in the social development of their home communities.
The second priority in the area of social development is the integration of the most vulnerable sections of society, like women and children in difficulty and disabled people. Cooperation in this area will include support for the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) launched by the King of Morocco on 18 May 2005. The third strategic priority in respect of social development consists in developing social assistance programmes at the local level, notably through the NAJMA project – an initiative of the Entraide nationale and the French Embassy’s Service for Cooperation and Cultural Action.

What is the status of the programme to implement compulsory health insurance in Morocco?

Since the law establishing the Basic Medical Coverage Code was published in the Official Bulletin of 21 November 2002, we have set up two bodies with responsibility for enforcing the Code: an interministerial committee chaired by the Prime Minister and an interministerial technical committee.

The two bodies are currently working on three projects:

Compulsory health insurance for public and private sector employees, the medical assistance scheme for low-income people and the scheme for the self-employed.

Regarding compulsory health insurance, the first scheme has already come into effect and the first reimbursements paid out. As a result, the number of private-sector employees insured has almost doubled, up from 17% to 33%.

The medical assistance scheme will commence by the end of 2006, as announced by the government.
The scheme for the self-employed is currently being finalised by the interministerial committee. Hopefully, the scheme will be introduced on completion of the committee’s work, and at any rate by the end of 2007, the date of the next elections.