Morocco steps up to lead Africa in digital health

Morocco is not just dipping its toes in digital health. It is diving in. At the third International e-Health Forum in Casablanca, Minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni made it plain and simple. Morocco wants to become Africa's leading hub for e-health. Her message came through steady and clear - digital health is no longer an ambition; it is a national direction.

How does it work?

Building an e-health hub is not about shiny slogans. It is about plumbing, wiring, and trust. It begins with data. Lots of it. Organized, shareable, and protected. As the minister put it, digital transformation in health "has become a key pillar of public sector modernization." She called for a grand coalition of people who shape health.

• hospitals
• researchers
• innovators
• regulators
• businesses

Morocco is already laying the legal and technical groundwork. Work is underway with the National Commission for the Protection of Personal Data, the National Police, and the Directorate General of Information Systems Security to secure rules for responsible AI and data processing. On top of that, a new General Directorate of AI is in preparation. It will coordinate national policies, strengthen partnerships, and steer big projects with health as a priority. Things are moving from ideas to rails.

Why does it matter?

Health systems today are hungry for precision, speed, and access. Artificial intelligence promises exactly that. Seghrouchni stressed that AI is already reshaping diagnosis, improving patient monitoring, and pushing clinical research forward. But she also injected caution. Successful use of AI requires "high-quality data, effective interoperability, and strong governance" so patient information is protected and technology works as intended.

Morocco sees e-health as a way to modernize care delivery and improve the quality of life. Digital tools no longer sit in the clinic alone. They touch wellbeing, prevention, and even sports performance. Youns Bjijou of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health put it well. The forum "has quickly become a major platform for dialogue, innovation, and cooperation in support of a modern and sustainable health system." These efforts aim to place Morocco not behind the curve but ahead of it.

The context

Casablanca is hosting more than 4,000 participants, 180 speakers, and delegations from 30 countries. The energy is collective. The forum includes Africa's first Health Interoperability Connectathon. In this technical sandbox, teams test how health systems talk to one another. There is also an international Hackathon co-organized with ICESCO. Participants from over 50 member states will build ideas together rather than reinventing alone.

Digital health is becoming global and competitive. Morocco wants to be at that table. It wants to be the connector between health, research, sport, and innovation across Africa. The country is placing its chips on AI, interoperability, and data governance. If it succeeds, it will not only treat patients faster. It may set the script for Africa's next generation of healthcare.