48% of Moroccans support higher taxes for universal health care, survey finds

Nearly half of Moroccans support higher taxes if the government uses the additional revenue to ensure adequate health care for all, while a large majority remain concerned about being able to afford medical treatment, according to a new Afrobarometer survey.

The survey found that 48% of Moroccan respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the government should guarantee adequate health care for everyone even if that requires higher taxes. Morocco was among the countries with the lowest levels of support in the 38-country survey, compared with a 70% African average.

At the same time, 73% of Moroccans said they were somewhat or very worried that they or someone in their family would be unable to obtain or afford needed medical care. The figure was close to the 74% average across the 38 countries surveyed.

Among Moroccans who had used a public clinic or hospital, 46% said it was easy or very easy to obtain the care they needed, while the remainder reported difficulties. Afrobarometer’s findings suggest that support for tax-funded health care is linked not only to the need for medical services but also to citizens’ confidence that governments can deliver them effectively.

The survey, based on Afrobarometer’s Round 10 data, examines public support for universal health care when it is explicitly linked to higher taxes. Across the 38 countries, Afrobarometer found that support was stronger among respondents who viewed health-service delivery more positively and those who trusted health authorities.

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