Morocco: Government Vows to Improve Health Sector

Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine el-Othmani delivers his first speech presenting the government's program at the Moroccan Parliament in Rabat, Morocco (Reuters)
Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine el-Othmani delivers his first speech presenting the government's program at the Moroccan Parliament in Rabat, Morocco (Reuters)
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Morocco: Government Vows to Improve Health Sector

Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine el-Othmani delivers his first speech presenting the government's program at the Moroccan Parliament in Rabat, Morocco (Reuters)
Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine el-Othmani delivers his first speech presenting the government's program at the Moroccan Parliament in Rabat, Morocco (Reuters)

Health services in Morocco are still below expectations, however, the government vows to improve them, asserted Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani.

Othmani reported that the health sector needs a profound reform of its system with a strategic perspective on various issues, particularly governance.

Speaking during a parliamentary hearing session, the PM asked the deputies to be fair and refrain from negativity, which will not lead to any achievement in this sector.

The PM pointed out that his government has given the health sector special importance in the government program and raised the budget of the health sector to $1.6 billion in 2019, a 16 percent increase compared to 2016. This budget has improved in an unprecedented manner in the last 12 years, he said.

He explained that the biggest approach to reforming the health system was through basic health coverage, as it would make it possible to reduce expenditures on families. Health coverage reached 60 percent after it was 33 percent in the previous period.

Othmani pointed out that the health coverage will increase through a number of procedures, with the first batch of cards to be issued before the end of 2019.

The PM also announced that the coverage workshops will expand to include immigrants and refugees in the future.

To address the issues with the health sector, Othmani said the government prepared a national plan to develop the health sector in the year 2025. The plan was prepared according to “participatory approach”, in which it consulted with partners and those concerned with the national health issue.

This led to a roadmap founded on six basic principles: quality of services, equal access to these services, solidarity and interdependence, continuity and proximity, performance and efficiency, then responsibility and accountability.

For their part, a number of deputies discussed the issues of the health sector including the lack of doctors, saying there are 3.5 doctors in the public and private sectors for every 18,000 persons, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend the number should be 13 doctors per 18,000.

On Saturday, members of the semi-banned Islamist al-Adl Wa al-Ihssane group staged protests in front of a number of mosques in the eastern city of Oujda to denounce the authorities' ban on their seclusion at the mosques.

The group said that the public forces stormed four mosques in Oujda and “violently evicted those who were reciting the Book of Allah, and forced them to leave the mosque.”

The group’s spokesman Hasan Panaji reported that the authorities banned all citizens who visit these mosques for seclusion, and members of al-Adl Wa al-Ihssane are part of these citizens.

He warned that closing the mosques means the government is incapable of performing its duty in protecting people’s right to seclusion in the mosque.

The authorities believe that the opposing al-Adl Wa al-Ihssane group uses the mosques and houses to hold unauthorized public gatherings.



Trump Says He Will Ease Sanctions on Syria, Moves to Restore Relations with New Leader

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) after their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 07 May 2025. (EPA)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) after their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 07 May 2025. (EPA)
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Trump Says He Will Ease Sanctions on Syria, Moves to Restore Relations with New Leader

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) after their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 07 May 2025. (EPA)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) after their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 07 May 2025. (EPA)

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will move to normalize relations and lift sanctions on Syria's new government to give the country “a chance at peace."

Trump was set to meet Wednesday in Saudi Arabia with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who last year led the overthrow of former leader Bashar Assad. He said the effort at rapprochement came at the urging of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“There is a new government that will hopefully succeed,” Trump said of Syria, adding, “I say good luck, Syria. Show us something special.”

The developments were a major boost for the Syrian president who at one point was imprisoned in Iraq for his role in the insurgency following the 2003 US-led invasion of the country.  

Sharaa was named president of Syria in January, a month after a stunning offensive by opposition groups led by his Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or HTS that stormed Damascus ending the 54-year rule of the Assad family.

The US has been weighing how to handle Sharaa since he took power in December.  

Then-President Joe Biden left the decision to Trump, whose administration has yet to formally recognize the new Syrian government. Sanctions imposed on Damascus under Assad also remain in place.

“The President agreed to say hello to the Syrian President while in Saudi Arabia tomorrow,” the White House said before Trump's remarks.

The comments marked a striking change in tone from Trump, who had until now been deeply skeptical of Sharaa.

Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaeda insurgents battling US forces in Iraq after the US-led invasion in 2003 and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq.

Sharaa, whom the US once offered $10 million for information about his whereabouts because of his links to al-Qaeda, came back to his home country after the conflict began in 2011 where he led al-Qaeda’s branch that used to be known as the Nusra Front. He later changed the name of his group to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and cut links with al-Qaeda.

Sharaa is set to become the first Syrian leader to meet an American president since the late Hafez al-Assad met Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000.