Health workforce trends and planning in Morocco: a READ-based systematic document analysis

Area of Science:

• Health Workforce Analysis
• Healthcare Policy
• Global Health Equity

Background:

• Morocco experiences significant health worker shortages and uneven distribution, hindering universal health coverage.
• Progress towards global health targets is impeded by these workforce challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze Morocco's health workforce and training pipeline using official data.
• To compare national health worker data with international benchmarks.
• To identify key policy gaps for improving health worker distribution and availability.

Main Methods:

• A READ-based document analysis approach was employed.
• Official data from national strategies, statistical yearbooks, and planning reports were systematically reviewed.
• Data underwent structured selection, extraction, and validation for accurate synthesis.

Main Results:

• In 2023, Morocco's physician density (0.80/1000) and nurse/midwife density (1.03/1000) fell below international benchmarks.
• Between 2000-2023, physician and nursing densities significantly increased, alongside substantial growth in training program enrollment.
• Health worker distribution remains inequitable, with urban concentration and rural shortages, alongside retention issues.

Conclusions:

• While training capacity has expanded, Morocco needs enhanced governance, equitable deployment strategies, and improved financing.
• Addressing these factors is crucial to convert supply increases into accessible and equitable health services.
• This study provides a foundational, reproducible baseline for future health workforce planning and reform in Morocco.