In a revealing report, Hassan Boubrik, the General Manager of the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) in Morocco, disclosed alarming statistics regarding outstanding debts related to the health coverage system for self-employed individuals. As of March 19, 2025, the total debts within this sector have surged to an eye-watering 3.7 billion dirhams. However, only a mere 296 million dirhams have been recovered, highlighting significant challenges in the collection process.
Boubrik's disclosures came during a presentation to the Finance and Economic Development Committee of the House of Representatives. He emphasized the urgent need to address this crisis, especially given that a considerable number of those involved are failing to meet their financial obligations. "The majority of the procrastinations involved about 27,490 notifications," Boubrik stated, underlining the scale of the problem.
Among the groups most affected, farmers led the list, with 462,718 participants incurring debts exceeding 2 billion dirhams—more than half of the total outstanding debt across all sectors. This situation poses a significant threat to their livelihoods and the broader economic stability of the agricultural sector in Morocco. Boubrik pointed out, "We will charge the crafts and traders who have an account with 173,372 individuals, and debts amounting to 641.7 million dirhams," thereby indicating that the debt issue permeates various professions.
The CNSS has actively pursued debt recovery measures, sending notifications to over 55,158 participants, which entailed a total of 343 million dirhams owed. With an extensive crackdown on defaulters, Boubrik revealed that they have resorted to seizing what was owed to the debtors, impacting about 10,301 individuals with a collective debt amounting to 62 million and 730 individuals.
While the CNSS accounts reflect a wide-reaching impact, Boubrik indicated that most of the debts relate to the mandatory health insurance system, involving 17,547 participants who owe a total of 117 million dirhams. Furthermore, self-employed individuals, totaling 16,822, face debts amounting to approximately 95.5 million dirhams.
Other professions experiencing high levels of debt include artisans and traders who collectively had approximately 173,372 individuals reporting debts close to 641.7 million dirhams. The pressures of unpaid contributions pose pressing questions about the sustainability of the health coverage system, particularly for self-employed individuals who often struggle to maintain cash flow during lean periods.
The report also highlighted concerning figures associated with other professions. There are 3,610 members of the legal and judicial professions with debts amounting to 25 million dirhams, 1,191 individuals from engineering and architecture fields with debts totaling around 10.3 million dirhams, and 4,816 artists facing debts of 16 million dirhams. Adding to these staggering totals are over 4,000 individuals from the diaspora, reporting debts of approximately 14.7 million dirhams.
Beyond the creative and professional sectors, the ramifications extend to the realm of sports, with 181 athletes and other such non-employees recording debts of 673,000 dirhams and 1,187 tourist guides with a total exceeding 5.6 million dirhams. The wide-reaching consequence of the unpaid dues raises critical discussions about public health funding and the implications for social protections.
As Boubrik summarizes, the debt crisis within the CNSS framework is indicative of broader economic concerns not only for the beneficiaries but for the Moroccan economy as a whole. The necessity for reform efforts to strengthen the health insurance system and promote timely payments cannot be overstated. The significant accumulated debts illustrate a system under duress, rendering urgent action essential.
Moving forward, stakeholders across various sectors must engage in dialogue to devise solutions that alleviate these burdens, ensure financial accountability, and ultimately promote a healthy working environment for the millions of Moroccans relying on the health coverage system. Time will tell if effective measures can be instituted to stabilize this increasingly precarious financial landscape.
