Professors at Rabat Medical Faculty to Strike Over Hospital Conditions

Medical professors at Rabat’s Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy are preparing for a warning strike on March 26 in response to the deteriorating conditions faced by regional hospitals. This decision, announced by the professors affiliated with the National Higher Education Union’s Rabat branch, aims to highlight critical issues while ensuring that emergency and intensive care services remain operational.

The professors have voiced their concerns regarding the unplanned distribution of faculty across regional hospitals, which they argue has resulted in catastrophic conditions for both staff and patients. They have condemned the severe shortages of medical equipment and supplies, which severely limit their ability to deliver quality care.

A significant point of contention is the "dangerous and chaotic dual management systems" within the healthcare network. The professors criticized the lack of coordination between the administration of Ibn Sina University Hospital and the regional health directorate, which they believe exacerbates the existing issues.

In their demands, the professors have called for the directorate to refrain from interfering in university affairs and to include faculty in the formulation of implementation decrees related to the territorial health group law.

Demands for improved working conditions and necessary resources in regional hospitals have intensified, with professors expressing concern over arbitrary practices that they believe jeopardize their professional reputations. They fear that, in the event of crises at these hospitals, they will be unfairly blamed for the failures of the system.

The union has warned that without immediate action to address these grievances, further escalation of protests is likely. The health sector in Morocco has recently experienced a series of strikes and protests, ranging from practitioners to students. Earlier this year, healthcare workers announced a protest that was later called off, while medical students concluded a year-long strike in November 2024 following a settlement with the ministries of Higher Education and Health.