How does healthcare work in Morocco, and what travel insurance, health insurance or expat insurance do you need?

How does the healthcare system work in Morocco?

Healthcare in Morocco is of reasonable quality, but not of Western standards.
Approximately 85% of healthcare in Morocco is provided by the public sector and 15% by the private sector. At the same time, much more money is spent on healthcare in the private sector than in the public sector. It will therefore come as no surprise that there is also a huge difference in quality.
In Morocco, family members of patients are sometimes expected to take care of them. Not only meals, but even bed linen and helping with washing are sometimes expected!
The main languages are French and Arabic, English-speaking doctors are not always available.
There are many pharmacies, which can be recognized by their green plus logo. Many medicines can be picked up without a prescription, but not everything (antibiotics, for example).

Public healthcare is generally not recommended for foreigners. The quality naturally varies per institution, but in general there are often shortages of good doctors and good facilities.
There are also shortages of hospital beds, which can increase waiting times.
Despite the fact that Morocco introduced a public health insurance - the "Assurance Maladie Obligatoire" (AMO), only 30% of the population is covered by it. Through this insurance, employees of public institutions and the unemployed receive care via the public health centers.
This insurance covers, among other things, care during pregnancy, dentistry, radiology and optical care.
In the meantime, the government also works on universal health insurance.

Private care is a lot better than public care, but the costs are extremely high.
Unfortunately, there are also shortages of doctors in the private sector.
Private health centers are also almost exclusively found in the big cities, especially in the regions of Casablanca-Settat and Rabat-Sale-Kenitra.

In Morocco, general practitioners are often used for all kinds of ailments. General practitioners are the first point of contact.
General practitioners will guide you through the care process.
Some clinics require you to make an appointment in advance. Others allow you to simply walk in.

Dental care is often a luxury for the local population. For foreigners, the sector creates a growing market for medical tourism.
Dental care is available in both the public and private healthcare sector. The private sector offers better quality and more options.
Although AMO covers basic dental care in the public sector, most foreigners living in Morocco opt for private care because of the better quality.

Your pregnancy experience in Morocco depends very much on the choices you make. Do you opt for private or public care, do you live in the city or in the countryside, how much do you have to spend?
Many local women living in the countryside give birth at home in the presence of a midwife, or spend the last month of their pregnancy near a hospital.
Public maternity care is largely free. Of course, this does come with longer waiting times, lesser quality and fewer options.
Sometimes you even have to sit in the waiting room for hours before it is your turn. Ultrasounds are also not common in public care.
Another disadvantage of public care is that you share your delivery room with four or eight people. If it is full, you sometimes even have to share a bed!
Maternity care in private institutions is better and of good quality, more extensive and deliveries are safer. You also get more personal care and you can choose your own delivery room.
The range, quality and costs do vary greatly per clinic.

As long as you stick to the rules and take certain things into account, Morocco is reasonably safe. However, it is not recommended to travel to the Western Sahara, the Algerian border and the Rif Mountains. Or at least to be extra careful here.
Serious crime is rare, but you certainly run the risk of petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag theft in busy places.
There is also a risk of terrorist attacks.
Scams and fraud occur regularly, including in the form of debit card fraud or, for example, via online dating.
Walking the streets alone in the dark can be dangerous, especially as a woman.
Awareness of cultural norms and rules helps to prevent problems.
Women are often advised to dress more conservatively, especially in remote areas.

Traffic in Morocco is reasonably safe, but can be quite chaotic at times.
The roads are in good to reasonable condition, with the occasional pothole.
Urban areas such as Marrakech and Casablanca can be busy.
People do not always follow the traffic rules and pedestrians can easily cross the road.
Public transport is generally reliable and safe.

Is the trip to Morocco and your return sufficiently covered? Are you sufficiently covered before, during and after your activities? Which insurance best suits your trip and your activity? Read more about insurances for abroad on JoHoinsurances.org.

In Morocco you have access to good, private healthcare, at high costs. It is therefore advisable to purchase international health insurance that covers these costs for a (short) stay in Morocco.
Make sure your insurance also covers medical evacuation as well as coverage in neighboring countries. Read more about insurances for abroad on Expatinsurances.org.

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