The 16th Guelmim Medical Days, organised by the local Association of Doctors and Pharmacists, were launched on Friday evening, with the participation of a galaxy of doctors and pharmacists.

Initiated under the aegis of the Guelmim-Smara region wilaya, in cooperation with the municipal council and the regional health directorate, this two-day event aims to strengthen the capacities of doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and health executives in the region in various fields related to the profession while taking advantage of the experiences of the supervising professors.

The opening ceremony was marked by the presentation of a report by the regional health director, Mustapha Ouzouhou, dealing with the medical assistance scheme for people with limited income (RAMED), which is part of the reform of the health and social system concerning the implementation of the basic medical coverage code and the activation of the compulsory health insurance system for employees in the public and private sectors.

Mr. Ouzouhou evoked, on this occasion, the mechanisms for implementing this project, which will be generalised in 2012 to allow 8.5 million needy people and those with limited income to access health services provided by the health sector for free or almost for free.

Previously, the Wali of the Guelmim-Smara region, governor of the Guelmim province, Abdellah Amimi, emphasised the important role assumed by doctors, pharmacists, and health executives in general, inviting them to open up and adhere more to voluntary and awareness-raising actions.

For his part, the president of the Association of Doctors and Pharmacists of Guelmim, El Houssein Chafadi, specified that this scientific event, which has become an annual tradition, is part of the continuous training of doctors and pharmacists, mentioning the organisation by the Association of other activities in the different zones of the province, in particular round tables and medical caravans.

The Medical Days will allow the beneficiaries to take advantage of diagnostic and treatment methods for certain diseases that can affect newborns during childbirth, in addition to diagnostic methods for the thyroid gland, as well as other issues related to emergency medicine, mental illnesses, and high blood pressure.