In collaboration with several partners, notably ISPOR Maghreb Chapter, the Moroccan Association of Health Products Economics (SMEPS) organized the eighth National Congress, and 1st African Congress of Pharmacoeconomics & Pharmacoepidemiology under the theme "Universal Health Coverage: what avenues of reform and fields of application" from 10 to 12 March 2023 in Rabat, Morocco. Several public organizations have contributed to this event including Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Higher Education and Innovation, Paying Agencies, Competition Council, Members of the Special Commission of the New Development Model, Foundation of Liberal Teaching Doctors-Morocco, Moroccan Pharmaceutical Industries (LEMM, Moroccan Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry and Innovation (FMIIP), Moroccan Federation of the Health Industry), and Councils of the Health Professionals Order and Health Professionals. The meeting attracted 400 participants, 30 speakers, and 18 moderators. Several countries participated in this event including Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, France, Belgium, and Poland.
Morocco faces significant health challenges, such as rising healthcare costs, an aging population, and the prevalence of chronic diseases. The health insurance system covers (at the time of the event) employees and civil servants, but the generalization of mandatory health insurance is being implemented for the entire Moroccan population. This generalization requires considerable investment and a major overhaul of the national health system, particularly to improving governance, the management of human and material resources in health establishments, the upgrades of hospital infrastructure, the pooling of resources, and the revision of the law relating to the health system and the provision of care. The total cost of the project is 14 billion dirhams, financed by a contributory system and a non-contributory mechanism financed by the State. The New Development Model report recommends placing the ANAM at the head of health insurance management as an independent regulator from 2025 and creating a single fund by combining the CNOPS, CNSS and other schemes to finance health benefits in the public and private sectors.
Different experiences of the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) were presented in the Congress including Egypt, Tunisia, and sub-Saharan African countries. In Egypt, a Universal Health Insurance (UHI) scheme was introduced in 2019, with the aim of covering the entire population of the country by 2030. In Tunisia, a compulsory health insurance system was introduced in 2007, covering more than 63% of the population. However, public spending on health only accounts for 57% of total spending, and Out of Pocket peaks at 39% of current spending on health care. As for sub-Saharan African countries, their poor performance in UHC can be attributed to problems of financing, inequity, and social determinants. Public financing is a crucial element for countries that have successfully implemented UHC. In sum, the implementation of UHC in developing countries faces several challenges but can bring many benefits, such as improved population health and poverty reduction.