If there is one lesson that we have learned from the health crisis linked to Covid, it is the need to extend the capacity for action in the field of health. Several initiatives have been taken at this level, including the recent signing of an agreement governing university health.
Conscious of the fact that a tangible evolution of the health sector is essential, the government opts for a systemic approach to student health. It is with this in mind that a partnership agreement, defining the Joint Action Plan 2022-2026, was signed between the Ministry of Health and Social Protection on the one hand and that of Higher Education, scientific research and innovation, on the other.
Towards a policy favoring health
On the sidelines of the National University Health Week organized from November 21 to 26, 2022, around the theme of the fight against addictions in the university environment, Khalid Ait Taleb, Minister of Health and Social Protection and Abdellatif Miraoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, signed a partnership agreement on November 29, defining the Joint Action Plan 2022-2026 to govern university health.
The said agreement strengthens intersectoral cooperation between the two signatory departments. An opportunity which also represents the opportunity for the latter to launch two joint projects, namely “Tobacco-free higher education establishments (PEEST)” and Normative framework for medical-university centres. It should be noted that the National University Health Week, which is part of the implementation of the directives of the National School and University Health Program, is perfectly aligned with the commitments of the two ministries in favor of youth. Which reflect their joint desire to respond effectively to the various health issues, and to fight against the risks likely to impact the physical and mental health as well as the socio-educational development of the student population.
In addition, this week also aims to contribute to the prevention of different types of addictive behavior among students, by raising their awareness of the related risk through awareness of the different means of prevention. The objective is to create a study environment conducive to health and the fight against various forms of addiction.
This nationwide operation mobilized all the university structures as well as those belonging to the Kingdom’s regional and provincial health establishments. It was marked by the organization of information and awareness sessions for the benefit of students on the different types of addiction and on the means of combating this scourge. To be noted, in this context, the deployment of a webinar to raise awareness of the treatment of addictions in the student environment, for the benefit of health professionals and those responsible for school and university health.
The opportunity to carry out an online survey to assess the extent of the consumption of tobacco and psychoactive substances within the student population. It should be noted that a digital campaign will be launched at the same time both on social networks and on the portals of the Ministry of Health and its partners. The organization of this edition of the National Week of University Health therefore materializes the effective involvement of stakeholders in meeting the challenges and actively contributing to reducing the spread of addictive behavior among the target student population in order to enable it to benefit from an optimal state of health and well-being.
Five bills examined
In addition, and under the chairmanship of Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government, the Council of Government is examining today, Thursday 1st December, five bills relating to health reform. According to the Department of the Head of Government, the first text deals with the creation of the High Authority for Health and the second with the creation of territorial health groups. As for the third bill, it concerns the essential guarantees granted to human resources in the health professions. As for the fourth and fifth projects, they relate, respectively, to the creation of the National Agency for Medicines and Health Products and that of a Moroccan Agency for Blood and its Derivatives. The Council should conclude this session by examining proposals for appointments to high office, in accordance with the provisions of Article 92 of the Constitution.