House of Representatives Adopts Two Government Bills Related to Health and the National Social Security Fund

The House of Representatives adopted, on Monday, November 13, 2023, two Government bills related to health and the National Social Security Fund (CNSS). The adoption took place during a legislative plenary sitting chaired by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, in the presence of the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Mr. Khalid Aït Taleb.

Adopted in second reading by a majority of votes, Government Bill 07.22 on the creation of the Higher Authority for Health falls under the social protection and healthcare system reform project. The Authority's competences include providing technical oversight of compulsory health insurance, assessing the quality of services offered by public and private healthcare establishments, and issuing opinions on public policies in the healthcare sector.

In addition to the aforementioned competences, the text stipulates that the Higher Authority for Health shall be entrusted with the role of mediator in resolving conflicts between healthcare professionals referred to it.

The importance of establishing the Higher Authority for Health lies in adding qualitative value to the healthcare sector, following a clear strategy for managing the profound reform of the healthcare system.

During the same sitting, the House members unanimously adopted Government Bill 41.23 enacting the cancellation of debts owed to the National Social Security Fund under the basic compulsory health insurance scheme, and relating to contributions, increases, and expenses associated with prosecutions and fines, payable by categories of professionals, independent workers, and freelancers exercising a liberal activity.

This legal text aims to solve the problem of financial imbalance and cancel debts owed to the National Social Security Fund following conditions and rules that have been verified. This approach seeks to solve the problem of accumulated debts, increases, expenses linked to prosecutions and fines, and the suspension of health insurance services for the concerned beneficiaries and their assigns.

This choice of settlement will enable the concerned beneficiaries to open a new page with the Fund, thus facilitating the implementation of the Framework Law on social protection, which is likely to ensure the financial equilibrium of the National Social Security Fund in the medium and long term.