As may possibly be expected, the healthcare system in Morocco is basic at its best; the facilities and hospitals outside of large cities are old fashioned and although the standards are acceptable, the chance of receiving specialist care is minimal. Most of the staff in Moroccan hospitals will not speak English.

It is possible that some initial medical treatment may be free, but the majority will need to be paid for; this includes tests, treatment, medication, and overnight stays, whether in a private or state hospital. As you can imagine, these fees can add up fairly quickly, especially if you have a serious accident, therefore it is highly advised that you have comprehensive medical insurance to cover you as soon as you arrive in Morocco.

It is important to check the details of what is and isn’t covered by the insurance you take out, for example, many companies will not routinely authorise medical evacuation back to the UK simply because the standards in Morocco are not as high, so you should check the policy carefully and ensure that it will cover you for any specific activities that you will be doing.

You should be aware, however, that most insurance companies will not authorise medical evacuation as a matter of routine, or because local hospitals are not up to UK standards. Make sure you check for any exclusion in your policy, and that you are covered for the activities you want to undertake in Morocco. You don’t need to get specially vaccinated to live in Morocco however it’s wise to be up to date with your tetanus jabs.

Morocco is currently nearing the end of a health reform (2008-2012) whereby it is hoped that the healthcare service in Morocco will be significantly improved. The two main priorities in the reform are to make healthcare accessible to those less fortunate in Morocco, and to bring down the cost of healthcare and medicine in the country. There are around 50 doctors for every 100,000 residents in Morocco, and over half of these are located in Rabat and Casablanca. There are in total around 130 hospitals in Morocco and over 2,000 health care centres, however lots are in or around big cities and towns which forces rural people to travel a long way for medical attention; something the Health Ministry of Morocco wants to change by decentralising the facilities on offer.

One of the biggest challenges in Moroccan healthcare is getting the medicine to people; drugs are not available everywhere in the country and the treatment of cancer, mental health issues and diabetes are amongst a long list of conditions which are targets for the reform.

Some people may choose to move back to the UK for treatment of serious illness though it is unlikely that this will be funded by medical insurance. The best thing you can do is to ensure that you are fully covered for accidents and illness whilst in Morocco and try to be close to towns with a hospital so that you can get treatment quickly should you need it.