Healthcare Corruption Scandal Rocks Morocco’s Political Elite

Cases of fraud concerning the security and cleaning contracts of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, particularly in university hospitals and hospitals, were revealed during the last meeting of the Social Sectors Commission in the first chamber of Parliament. According to members of this commission, companies created by close associates of certain ministers and members of parliament have benefited from public contracts through corruption, favoritism, clientelism or poor management in the awarding and execution of these contracts.

It was found that subcontractor companies bill 8,000 dirhams per security guard, but only pay them a monthly salary of 1,500 dirhams, reports Assabah. Due to this exploitation, the guards do not hesitate to blackmail patients and their relatives desperately seeking care. A company founded by the sister of a director at the ministry would systematically obtain contracts without ever being questioned by successive ministers. This director would be in cahoots with certain unionists suspected of corruption.

The criticism prompted a reaction from the supervising minister. He explained that security and cleaning services are not within the competence of the Ministry of Health and that these tasks have been outsourced and managed through subcontracting via public contracts. 70% of the companies managing security and cleaning in healthcare facilities are not professionals in the sector, the minister revealed. These companies, with a derisory capital, sometimes less than 10,000 dirhams, obtain colossal contracts (up to 50 million dirhams) while only paying the employees a meager salary, sometimes less than 1,000 dirhams, it is specified.

To reverse the trend, Tahraoui has decided to impose a strict specification from now on to regulate this sector.