Morocco Launches Mental Health Plan 2030 Worth 4 Billion Dirhams
Morocco's Health and Social Protection Ministry has launched the Mental Health Plan 2030, backed by a budget of nearly 4 billion dirhams, to address the needs of 6.5 million Moroccans living with mental health disorders.
Morocco's Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tahraoui, launched the "Mental Health Plan 2030" in Rabat on Thursday, September 3, 2026, backed by a budget of nearly 4 billion dirhams. The plan addresses the needs of close to 6.5 million Moroccans living with mental health disorders, including about 2 million children and young people, while roughly 85% of them currently lack access to adequate care.
A reality that demands action
Figures presented by the ministry reveal the scale of the gap between needs and the mental health care currently available in Morocco, particularly for vulnerable groups, children and young people, who were placed among the plan's priorities alongside strengthening primary care facilities and their coordination with hospitals.
The plan's full targets through 2030
The plan rests on clear quantitative targets for infrastructure and human resources, according to the following table:
| Indicator | Current situation | 2030 target |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital beds dedicated to mental health | 2,466 | 4,728 |
| Psychiatric hospitals | 10 | 17 |
| Intermediate care facilities | 4 | 24 |
| Psychologists in the public sector | 32 | 786 |
| Psychiatrists trained annually | 36 | 124 |
| Specialized nurses trained annually | 490 | 750 |
Why this decision matters
The plan is built around three strategic pillars and four framework conditions, with a roadmap comprising 86 measures and actions. It was developed through a participatory approach involving 13 government departments and various stakeholders, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO). It notably relies on raising the number of psychologists in the public sector from 32 to 786 over the same period, reflecting an effort to address one of the biggest bottlenecks in Morocco's mental health system: the severe shortage of specialized human resources. It also plans to expand intermediate care facilities, which allow patients to be followed up outside hospitals, from 4 to 24, easing pressure on hospitals and bringing services closer to patients across a wider part of the country.