Morocco Expands Nurses’ Emergency Powers Amid Doctor Shortage Controversy

The ministry’s decision is strongly contested by doctors who do not see the urgency of entrusting anesthesia and resuscitation nurses with such responsibility. For the specialists, article 6 of law 43-13 relating to the practice of the nursing profession, stipulates that the nurse in anesthesia and resuscitation "carries out acts of anesthesia or resuscitation of patients, under the direct responsibility and supervision of an anesthesiologist-resuscitator doctor", reports Maroc Hebdo.

An argument that the minister rejects by emphasizing that this law "has still not come into force since its implementing decrees have not yet been published". He calls on nurses to fulfill their duties as stipulated in Article 20 of the Constitution, which indicates that "the right to life is the primary right of every human being. The law protects this right." He remains convinced that anesthesia nurses have sufficient theoretical and practical skills to meet this new responsibility, which is only temporary.

On the side of the nurses, this measure is rather well received, according to Abdelilah Asaissi, president of the Moroccan Association of Anesthesia-Resuscitation Nurses (AMIAR). For him, this decision by the Ministry of Health "does justice to anesthesia nurses while recognizing their skills and the role they play in the health system". He adds that "nurses have always taken on this task without any legal cover due to the lack of specialists in hospitals". However, he asks the ministry to strengthen the level of nurses by organizing continuous training.