Agadir 24 | Agadir24
The Independent Union of Public Sector Doctors decided to go on a national strike on Thursday and Friday, November 7 and 8, in all health institutions, with the exception of emergency and recovery departments.
In a statement, a copy of which was received by Agadir 24, the union called for accelerating the imposition of scientific conditions for medical practice and sterilization conditions within all health institutions and surgical facilities, with the exception of urgent cases only.
The union decided to “refrain from handing over driver’s license certificates and from granting all types of medical certificates except for medical license certificates accompanying treatment.”
It also confirmed its defeat by boycotting the OSIX program and similar programs, the school health campaign due to the absence of minimum medical and administrative standards, and “random” surgical campaigns that do not respect recognized medical standards and patient safety conditions.”
In addition to “boycotting medical convoys, all non-medical administrative work, periodic reports, servient records, statistics except notification of compulsory illnesses, administrative certificates except birth and death certificates, and administrative and training meetings.”
The union stressed “boycotting coverage of demonstrations that do not meet the conditions contained in the ministerial circular regulating the process of medical coverage of demonstrations.”
The union said in its justification for this escalation of protest, “The health system reform project, as it was presented, was based on four vital pillars, including valuing human resources in the sector. The facts and actions prove that the matter is merely a slogan for consumption. Instead of stimulating these resources and giving them a stable legal framework, An incentive for compensation and giving, the series of demolition of all the gains accumulated by health workers continues, including the category of doctors, pharmacists, and dental surgeons, which today feels that it is being targeted, due to the absence of real guarantees to preserve the status of a “public employee with full rights” and the centralization of wages and salaries from The general budget is “under employee expenses,” and doctors are deprived of a lower wage increase than all employees in the public sector.”
The union continued: “To circumvent our demands, especially two degrees above outside the framework, regarding which there was agreement since 2011.”
She added, “Unfortunately, the falsity of the allegations and promises has clearly emerged, and as the Independent Union expected, by its refusal to sign the agreement, through successive shocks and the government’s continuous retreat from all its obligations and its failure to respect all promises, and today, in light of the recent developments and the current circumstance, which is witnessing a particularly unfortunate tension.” With the disastrous requirements brought about by the draft finance law for the year 2025, which stipulates the elimination of financial positions for health workers and their wages to be borne by health groups and not the general budget.”
The union said in its statement, “These laws and decisions strike at the heart of the legal guarantees to preserve all rights and gains for health professionals in public employment, especially the status of a full-fledged public employee, for which a report of a general agreement was signed between the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the union bodies represented in the health sector on Sunday.” December 29, 2023, and what we attached to a special report between our union and the Ministry of Health at the end of January 2024, with all the details regarding the demands that have a material impact, and those related to guarantees of legal status, in addition to observations related to our union regarding the points of demands that remained outstanding, and despite our formal request for dialogue on two occasions, it did not take place. Responding to it up to today is what we consider within the National Office of the Independent Union of Public Sector Doctors to be a dangerous decline, which on the other hand is matched by the government’s rush to impose laws and decisions to impose a fait accompli and accelerate the strike on the rights and gains of all health workers.”
On the other hand, the union announced its suspicion of the centralization of wages and that it was a public employee with full rights, while making any necessary amendments to Laws 08.22 and 09.22.
The union called on “the Moroccan government to respect its obligations and withdraw from the draft laws and decisions included in the Finance Law.”
On the other hand, the union called on the Ministry of Health, and through it, the Moroccan government to “urgently respond to the national demand file of the Independent Syndicate of Public Sector Doctors, especially its urgent points, most notably: two grades above outside the framework and the increase in wages.”
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**Interview with Dr. Souad El-Fassi, Spokesperson for the Independent Union of Public Sector Doctors**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. El-Fassi. The recent announcement about the doctors’ strike has garnered significant attention. Can you explain the main reasons behind this decision?
**Dr. El-Fassi:** Thank you for having me. The strike is primarily a response to the ongoing deterioration of public health care in Morocco. We’ve seen a substantial drop in the number of doctors, from around 12,000 to about 8,500, which has severely strained our health system. Our recent actions are aimed at demanding better working conditions and comprehensive reforms.
**Editor:** You mentioned “better working conditions.” What specific changes are the doctors calling for to improve the situation?
**Dr. El-Fassi:** We’re calling for the implementation of scientific standards in medical practice and sterilization across all health institutions. Health workers deserve respect and support, but we’re currently facing neglect, including inadequate wages and a lack of career advancement opportunities. Specifically, we want commitments from the government that protect our legal status as public employees.
**Editor:** There’s also been talk about boycotting certain programs and administrative work. Can you elaborate on that?
**Dr. El-Fassi:** Yes, our boycott is a protest against programs like OSIX and the school health campaign, which do not comply with minimum medical and administrative standards. We’re also refraining from non-urgent administrative tasks. This is our way of emphasizing that health care cannot be treated as a routine task without the necessary infrastructure and standards in place.
**Editor:** The government has announced a health system reform project. How do you view its impact on the concerns you’re raising?
**Dr. El-Fassi:** While the government’s reform project outlines vital pillars, including the valorization of human resources, it has proven to be more of a slogan than actionable policy. We feel that promises have not been kept, and the conditions for health workers are deteriorating. This is compounded by the draft finance law for 2025, which threatens to eliminate financial positions for health professionals. We need real guarantees that protect our rights.
**Editor:** With the strike set to take place soon, what message do you want to send to the public and the government?
**Dr. El-Fassi:** Our message is clear: health workers are essential to the public health system, and we deserve respect, fair compensation, and the appropriate conditions to provide the best care for our patients. We urge the government to engage in genuine dialogue and address our concerns for the well-being of health professionals and the Moroccan public.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. El-Fassi. We hope for a resolution that benefits both health workers and the citizens they serve.
**Dr. El-Fassi:** Thank you for having me.