Rabat- In a shocking figure revealed on Wednesday by Moroccan Minister of Health El Hussein El Ouardi, more than 200 thousand Moroccan citizens have registered for the System of Medical Assistance known as RAMED while being enrolled in the Mandatory Health Insurance, according to Akhbar Al Yaoum in its issue of Friday, January 24th.
RAMED is a national solidarity program based on the principles of social welfare in favor of the poor. However, the recent figures revealed by the Health Ministry show that there are thousands of Moroccans who are already covered by the Mandatory Health Insurance and tend to register for RAMED in order to benefit from the free –of- charge services it provides at the expense of the poor who are truly in need.
The same source went on to add that in spite of being overseen by the Interior Ministry, the distribution of RAMED cards demonstrates a deep inequity and a blatant manipulation of the law.
El Ouardi stressed that the Government will retrieve the value of medical treatments from those who have benefited from RAMED program outside the law and make sure that only those who are uncovered will have access to a RAMED card.
The Minister also said that the Government would try the private sector option to overcome the problems facing RAMED by means of allowing private institutions to treat RAMED beneficiaries.
5.6 million is the number of people registered for RAMED at the end of October 2013, including 4.4 million in situation of poverty and 1.1 million in situation of precariousnes.
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