Strike of Healthcare Workers: Paralyzing Hospitals Across Morocco

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | November 08th, 2024 — Public hospitals across Morocco were plunged into complete paralysis on Thursday as healthcare sector unions voiced their dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to honor its commitments.

The ongoing two-day strike reflects growing frustration among healthcare professionals, who accuse the government of disregarding previously signed agreements and undermining their rights in the 2025 finance bill.

The healthcare sector’s union coordination, which convened in Rabat on Thursday, held a press conference to strongly condemn the government’s failure to meet its obligations. They warned that the situation in the sector has now reached a critical point, with tensions at an all-time high.

The unions highlight the government’s lack of response to urgent demands from healthcare workers, calling it a blatant disregard for a structural crisis affecting a vital sector of the country. They stress that an agreement signed on July 23, which promised to protect public servant status and prioritize budgetary positions, has been reduced to an empty promise, with no concrete foundation in the 2025 finance bill. This threatens the job security of thousands of healthcare workers.

The unions have expressed unanimous frustration with the government’s silence in the face of repeated demands, which they believe indicates a lack of concern for the seriousness of the situation and a form of contempt for a sector already grappling with numerous challenges. They condemn the “empty promises” and complete absence of political will to address the fundamental issues in public healthcare, stressing that such an attitude only exacerbates the crisis.

In response, the unions have demanded the immediate implementation of the July 23 agreement and warned that any violation of workers’ rights or their professional stability would be deemed an unacceptable transgression.

The unions have also threatened to escalate their strike action if their demands are not addressed promptly. To this end, they have announced a series of planned protests for the coming weeks, including a national rally outside the Ministry of Health, a march to Parliament, and a boycott of health programs, mobile units, and medical caravans. Furthermore, they have declared the suspension of specialized consultations and surgeries, except for urgent cases, along with a boycott of payment collections and health service billing.

As the strike enters its first day, the unions have vowed to intensify their actions if their legitimate demands are not met. They have warned both the government and the Ministry of Health that they will hold them accountable for the continued deterioration of healthcare services due to the failure to uphold agreements and the denial of workers’ rights.

 

 

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