12 May 2025, Rabat, Morocco – World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy concluded her first official visit to Morocco, from 5 to 7 May 2025. The visit represents a major step in strengthening collaboration between WHO and the Government of Morocco.
Dr Balkhy’s meeting with Minister of Health and Social Protection H.E. Amine Tehraoui focused on reinforcing collaboration under the Country Cooperation Strategy 2023–2027. Dr Balkhy expressed WHO support for Morocco's health system reforms and ambitions to extend universal health coverage and commended Morocco’s vision to enhance health and medicine sovereignty in the country and the Region.
Recognizing Morocco's strategic role as a bridge between the Organization and countries of the Region, Dr Balkhy underlined the need for increased cooperation to launch new initiatives. Both parties highlighted the importance of strengthening the Morocco-WHO partnership to achieve shared public health goals, develop regional health systems and adhere to WHO guidelines on epidemic prevention and pharmaceutical security.
To promote the Regional Director’s flagship initiative on expanding equitable access to quality medical products, Dr Balkhy met with Mr Younes Hilali, Director of the vaccine manufacturing laboratory Marbio. Dr Balkhy commended Morocco’s plans for local vaccine production to achieve medicine sovereignty.
The Regional Director also met with Director of the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products Professor Samir Ahid and his team and visited the National Laboratory for Drug Control to learn more about their plans for local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
WHO will continue its support as Morocco builds its regulatory system and elaborates a national pharmaceutical policy to advance access to safe, high-quality medicines and safeguard public health.
A visit to TangerMed Port provided an opportunity to advocate for the facility’s potential to support regional access to medicines and medical equipment, and for the national border health control unit to be recognized as a collaborating centre. They form an ecosystem that not only strengthens Morocco’s health security but has potential to serve the wider Eastern Mediterranean Region with quality, lifesaving vaccines, medicines and other medical products.
During a visit to the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) sentinel site at Sheikh Zaid Hospital in Rabat, Dr Balkhy met with Director Dr Adil Ababou and his dedicated team who presented their work on AMR surveillance. Dr Balkhy commended their promotion of a one health approach through collective actions with the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment.
At Jawadi Urban Primary Health Centre Dr Balkhy met with Regional Director of Health in Casablanca Dr Abdelmoula Boulamizat and a dedicated team of health workers delivering essential care to the local community, including immunization, maternal and child health care and support for chronic conditions. A visit to the Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (ISPITS) provided an opportunity to see WHO’s collaboration with local partners in support of the flagship initiative to build a resilient, fit-for-purpose and sustainable health workforce across the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Dr Balkhy visited Maternity Les Orangers, a WHO collaborating centre on sexual and reproductive health, training and research. The centre offers maternal and neonatal health and family planning services and provides training for members of the health workforce from Morocco and other African countries.
In her meetings with Dr Salim Al Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and with the United Nations Country team, Dr Balkhy explored opportunities to strengthen partnerships between different organizations to advance health in all policies and deepen collaboration on climate change resilience, mental health and social well-being, education and youth and community engagement.
The 3-day visit and meetings with senior Moroccan officials and local partners allowed the different parties to reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing health goals and reinforcing Morocco’s leadership across the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Africa and beyond.