Watan-A private medical group operating across multiple Moroccan cities has found itself at the center of a storm of criticism, outrage, and even ridicule following the announcement by Egypt’s Minister of Labor, Mohamed Gibran, regarding 800 job opportunities for Egyptian nurses in Morocco. The positions reportedly offer a monthly salary of 10,000 dirhams ($1,000), along with a housing allowance of 2,000 dirhams ($200) and additional benefits.
Backlash Over Salary and Local Exclusion
Moroccan critics have focused on the salary, which is comparable to that of a general practitioner, raising concerns about the exclusion of local health professionals and unemployed Moroccan graduates trained in the field. While acknowledging Egypt’s medical expertise, many Moroccans believe that the healthcare group is undervaluing local talent by offering these positions to foreign professionals instead of Moroccan nurses.
Professional groups on WhatsApp have also debated the wage and housing allowance, questioning why these private clinics do not offer Moroccan nurses the same benefits. Some have argued that higher wages and better conditions could help curb the ongoing emigration of Moroccan healthcare professionals, particularly nurses and other medical staff.
Medical Group Responds
The medical group in question, “Akdital,” released a public statement in response to the controversy, denying having signed any agreements with foreign entities to recruit nurses from outside Morocco.
The group explained that as part of its 2023-2024 expansion plan, it had opened several new clinics across different Moroccan cities in partnership with the Office of Vocational Training and Job Promotion and the “Awrach” employment program. Through this initiative, the company has hired 4,000 Moroccan healthcare professionals, aiming to enhance the quality of medical services in the country.
The statement, which was reviewed by Al-Quds Al-Arabi, further outlined future expansion plans for 2025-2026, with new medical facilities set to open in various Moroccan regions to improve public access to high-quality healthcare services. As part of this growth strategy, Akdital plans to recruit more medical and nursing professionals, emphasizing that priority will always be given to Moroccan talent.
However, the group also acknowledged the current shortage of medical personnel in Morocco and did not rule out hiring foreign healthcare professionals to fill structural gaps in the sector. The statement reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Moroccan healthcare professionals while continuing to invest in Morocco’s medical infrastructure.
Public Reaction: Mixed Opinions
Despite the clarification, many Moroccan social media users remained skeptical. Some believed the company was attempting to downplay the controversy without fully denying the Egyptian minister’s statement. One social media user sarcastically noted in Moroccan Darija that the company “tried to apply eyeliner but ended up blinding itself,” implying that the statement failed to address concerns transparently.
Some Moroccans supported the idea of hiring Egyptian nurses, arguing that they are not “foreigners” but rather “brothers”. Others saw it as a solution to the perceived negligence and inefficiencies of Moroccan nursing staff, citing long hospital wait times and poor patient care in the country’s public hospitals.
Supporters of the recruitment drive also emphasized the high reputation of Egyptian nurses in Gulf countries, stating that their experience could help address Morocco’s chronic shortage of healthcare workers.
Ongoing Debate on Healthcare Workforce Shortages
The controversy highlights Morocco’s ongoing struggles with medical staff shortages, particularly due to the mass migration of Moroccan nurses and doctors to Europe and the Gulf. This issue has been a subject of parliamentary discussions, as well as union and government reports, reflecting the urgent need for reforms in the healthcare sector.
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