Moroccan PM and Health Minister Clash Over Key Health Sector Appointments

The appointments to the posts of Secretary General of the Ministry of Health and Director of Public Hospitals are sources of friction. The minister’s proposal to appoint Abdelilah Boutaleb to the post of Secretary General of his department has met with a categorical refusal from the head of the Executive, reports Assabah. He is accused of wanting to appoint a senior official very close to the PJD. This allegation is brushed aside by sources from the Islamist party.

In retaliation, Mr. Taleb has appointed Mr. Boutaleb as head of the internal committee responsible for overseeing the implementation of preventive measures related to the management of the state of health emergency in the administrative services under his department. This appointment designates him as Secretary General of the Ministry. The only problem: the appointments of the new Secretary General of Health and the new Director of Hospitals have not yet been made in the Council of Government.

Dissatisfied with this situation, the PAM deputy, Addi Bouarfa, called for an end to the bone of contention that pits Mr. El Othmani and Mr. Taleb on this issue.