Morocco Suspends Private Clinics for Covid-19 Overcharging, Orders Patient Reimbursements

During the meeting organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Health, with ANAM, CNOPS, CNSS, healthcare providers, as well as all signatories of the national convention, the Director General of ANAM, Khalid Lahlou, announced the sanctions imposed on 3 of the 4 clinics that were the subject of the technical controls initiated by the Ministry of Health.

Under the current regulations, ANAM has decided to suspend 3 of the 4 clinics from the national third-party payer convention. In addition, these clinics must reimburse the amounts unduly received from all the complainants who were victims of overcharging within their structure.

The health gendarme has thus rendered justice to hundreds of Moroccans who, on the one hand, had to face this wretched virus, and on the other hand, the greed of private clinics, who forced them to make a choice: to obtain the 60,000 DH, the entry ticket to the clinic, or to die. Even if the private clinics denounce the national pricing as not adapted to the new requirements imposed by Covid-19, it is out of the question that the citizen, the weakest link in the chain, pays a large contribution. Also, the commission has approved the possibility of improving the pricing related to the Covid-19 care protocol.

The objective is to facilitate and guarantee the secure access of the AMO insured to the care of Covid-19, without leaving a remaining charge for the insured. ANAM, CNSS and CNOPS will analyze the impact of this scenario on the financial balance of the funds and present it at the next meeting of the permanent monitoring committee.