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Handling Medical Emergencies and Healthcare in Morocco

What’s your worst travel fear? For most people it’s getting sick or having a medical emergency far from home. But, when you choose to make your home in a foreign country understanding and using the medical care system can be even more intimidating and frightening.

Many people ask me about healthcare in Morocco. The first year we lived in Morocco, I went back to the US a few months later for a medical situation. We had only been in Morocco for a month when I started getting sick. After arguing about going to the doctor for weeks, MarocBaba finally took me in – and we discovered I had a lot of small gallstones. Because of my previous gastro-surgery and because we still had insurance coverage in the US, I went back to have surgery.

Later on in the year our youngest son was ill for a week and did not get any better. After taking him to the doctor we learned he needed to have his appendix removed. We were left wondering, should we do the surgery here? Should we buy tickets for the next day or two and one of us fly back to the US with him to have it done? What should we do? Ultimately we chose to have the surgery in Morocco.

I want to preface the remaining portions of this by saying there are many very skilled, qualified doctors in Morocco. Many have trained in Europe and the United States and there is access to equipment, procedures, and medications that are the same or comparable to what you would find in those countries. But it comes at a price and there can be many hurdles.

I can’t compare what medical service is like in Europe as I’ve never experienced it so my observations are based on my experiences in Marrakech, Morocco, and the United States.

Morocco has a two-tiered medical system. There is universal public healthcare as well as a private healthcare system. The public healthcare system is dismal, at best. It may be better than no healthcare but should really not be considered if at all possible. The private system is a pay system. There are some health insurance plans in the country to help with costs and some will accept international insurance plans. By western standards care is very affordable. An office visit can cost between $10-15, medications a few dollars, and an operation $500+.

Healthcare in Morocco

Routine Medical Exams

If you need a check-up, are ill, or have a specific concern there are general practice physicians and specialists in any area available. Some doctors only take appointments by appointment, while others take walk-ins.  Either way, the general procedure for appointments is “do you want a morning appointment or afternoon?” No times.

If you have a morning appointment you show up when the office opens (or when you want in the morning) and are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. Afternoon appointments work the same way but after lunch hour.

If you need an x-ray or blood work you will leave the office and go to a special location that does this. The doctor will give you the information on where to go. You’ll need to have the workup done, wait for the results (a few hours or maybe the next day), and then bring it back to the doctor to be read. For any prescriptions, you’ll be written the order on paper and can bring it to any pharmacy to be filled.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are easy to identify in Morocco, they are marked with a green crescent or plus sign. One difference in Morocco is that you can’t buy things like Ibuprofen over the counter, you’ll need to ask for it from the pharmacist. Need some antibiotics? Just go ask! There are lots of medications that a pharmacist can dispense without a prescription so if you know what to ask for you likely will be able to get it without a doctor’s visit – unless it’s a controlled medication or narcotic drug.  If you are feeling under the weather and it’s not urgent you might try this route first.

Staying in Hospitals

Hospital services and care will vary depending on the hospital. In Morocco they’re known as cliniques. If you need to go in for a procedure or operation there were several things I found very different.

First, you need to supply almost all of your own things like; a drinking cup, bottled water, towels, kleenex, sheets (yes they have sheets but apparently bringing your own blankets is needed), and pillows. I’m not sure how much this is for comfort vs. required.  This will vary from location to location.

Unless you request it, pay extra, and make a big fuss you won’t get a single room, even if you’re with a child. If you’re alone this might not even be an option. When I was considering my surgery I was told my husband would not be permitted to stay overnight with me. A scary prospect when you’re sick, can barely speak the language, and drugged up.  

On the other hand when my mom was visiting and ill we went to the same hospital and after making it very clear that one of us was going to spend the night with her they relented and gave us a room that I could stay in with her.

You should also be prepared for very different cultural practices in care. For example, you won’t get ice chips -ever. After our son’s surgery, he wasn’t permitted to drink anything, not even a swab of water in his mouth for almost 16 hours. I found this very strange and can’t say I followed the recommendations.

In the US after surgery, the nurses and doctor would have you up and walking as soon as possible, here they were more than happy to prolong movement as long as possible. I had to push and push to get help to get our son up and moving around.

If you need medications that aren’t given through the IV someone may need to go to the pharmacy to get them for you and bring them to the room.

You’re kind of on your own. I found nurses are much less about helping patients or caring for patients than performing routine job functions. They’re there to serve some basic purposes but aren’t in the field to care for or comfort patients. Non IV medications were not administered by nurses – we had to give them to him. It is very important and helpful to have someone with you to act as your advocate especially if you are very ill.

On the plus side, nurses don’t bother you every 2 hours to take your vitals. A bit more restful night of sleep.

Recovery time is very pronounced. Our son stayed home from school for two weeks after his appendix surgery. Two weeks!

Follow-up care is often included in the hospital bill. We went back to the hospital twice to have his wound cleaned, the bandage changed, and the doctor checked it. We then had an office visit to have his stitches removed. These were included in the surgery price. Make sure to ask about this when you pay.

Speaking of money. The hospital bill is due at the time of discharge. All of it. There may be some type of payment arrangement system but in general, it should not be expencted. Expect to pay cash on the spot.

I have to touch on one other point because it’s something I’ve carried with me after my son’s surgery. If you’re somewhere that your in-laws also live they’re going to be in your business.

This is a very big cultural difference.

My son had surgery later in the evening after a full day of doctor’s visits and running around. We were stressed out, scared, and worried. The very last thing I wanted was a roomful of people when he came out of surgery. Even though I begged and begged that they stay home, guess what happened? A roomful of people.

I’ve learned this is their way of showing they care. But, I felt incredibly disrespected as a person and a parent. My sister-in-law went with us to the doctors’ appointments and pre-operative discussions with the doctors. To me, this was frustrating because the doctor and attendants did not include me in any conversations, instead directed the conversation to my husband and sister-in-law completely excluding me.

I’m sharing this because cultural differences are very real, and when your child is sick (or you’re sick) the last thing you want is surprises. It often feels like as the outsider you’re expected to shoulder the differences and “suck it up” and not the other way. I have no resolution for this experience and it still makes me upset. I don’t feel like I should be expected to just accept things because I’m an outsider, especially when it concerns my child.

While our experience was very different from what I was used to I felt that the doctor was competent and don’t regret having done the surgery here. It would have cost us a small fortune to go back to the United States to have the same procedure done. I know next time I will be more prepared and know what to ask and what to expect.

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Nikki Scheiner

Monday 20th of March 2023

Can I get a MRI (neck) in Marrakech? Are there orthopaedic specialists here or should I fly back to London? And if I do stay in Marrakech, are there well trained physiotherapists here? Thank you so very much.

Amanda Mouttaki

Tuesday 21st of March 2023

I have had an MRI here on my back. There are trained professionals yes. I would go to Marrakech Clinique in Targa as my first stop for referrals and treatment.

Norma

Saturday 22nd of October 2022

How can apply for Medicare healthcare application for deaf in Agadir, Morocco

Amanda Mouttaki

Sunday 23rd of October 2022

I would start by trying the CNSS office locally.

MAC

Wednesday 19th of October 2022

Hi Amanda,

Thanks for this overview. I am wondering if you have a recommendation for a gynaecologist in Marrakech (or anywhere in Morocco really)? I am a tourist so I would need a private one :)

Amanda Mouttaki

Thursday 20th of October 2022

Dr. Zakaria Mansouri is my go to doctor for that in Marrakech.

DL

Monday 30th of August 2021

Here's an update on hospital care I received while in Morocco this month. A few weeks ago, I broke my ankle in Essouira. I was first taken to the public hospital there, which was quite the nightmare. I then moved to the private Akhawayn clinic, where I at least got an X-ray. Unfortunately, the doctor did not inspire much confidence, and seemed to reluctant to do anything other than putting on a splint. He was also a rather unpleasant person. The next day, we decided to get a second opinion and drove up to the Marrakech clinic in Targa. It proved to be an excellent choice. I had a consultation with a surgeon who provided a very full diagnosis and operated on me the same day. I stayed overnight and returned for a checkup two weeks later and then got a brace (boot). The hospital facilities and care are first-rate and of the highest standards. I found the staff to be friendly and professional throughout. In terms of cost, the whole thing cost around 14,000 dirhams. Highly recommended.

Tina

Sunday 12th of September 2021

@DL, i can only second this recommendation of the Marrakech clinic in Targa. My father broke his hip and the surgery was swift and without any complications. This hospital is clean and the staff we interacted with were all competent. Highly recommend.

On another note, can someone please recommend a good doctor/place in Marrakech for laser treatments on the face (to remove dark age spots on the cheeks)?

Ma7moud

Friday 14th of May 2021

Hi Amanda,

Longtime reader, first time commenter.

I am in a desperate situation. I married a Moroccan lady just before the pandemic hit us. Supposedly, as soon as you get married to a foreigner - you lose your health cover. She is also studying so cannot currently work. So she basically has zero healthcare cover.

I am at my wits end on how to support her with healthcare coverage, when I ask an International company they say they only provide Expat cover. Do you know any private healthcare company who we could speak to for Moroccan residents?

I spoke to a company called Sahham and all they do is ask us if she works - which she doesn't. I don't understand their system and am desperate now.

Best regards

Ma7moud

Saturday 15th of May 2021

@Amanda Mouttaki,

Thank you for your kind feedback.

Out of pocket visits are turning into 8-9000MAD every month. Each injection is like 1000MAD. I just paid 3100MAD for just a blood test today in Casablanca.

She's adamant that there's no Private Health Insurance for Moroccan residents unless they're employed, which I find unbelievable. There has to be. Makes no sense to me. If you're paying an Insurance Premium why would employment make any difference. Its bonkers.

I will speak to RMA on Monday but I'm worried its going to be the same conversation I had with Sahham. Thank you.

Amanda Mouttaki

Saturday 15th of May 2021

I'm not sure it has anything to do with marrying a foreign person but she was possibly covered through her parents before and that cancels when you get married. RMA Assurance is one - there are a few others as well though you may want to work out what the cost of premiums is vs out of pocket expenses. Insurance is good for catastrophic things but for general visits etc it may not be.