HIBAPRESS – Rabat
The recruitment exams organized by the Ministry of Health in Morocco are witnessing a wide controversy due to what many candidates and those interested in public affairs consider a clear spread of favoritism and “wasta” (connections), which raises questions about the transparency and integrity of these competitions.
Despite the official slogans that uphold the principle of equal opportunities and integrity, the reality, according to multiple testimonies, reflects a different picture, as many believe that the results are predetermined and that competence is no longer the sole criterion for success, where employment opportunities are sometimes granted thanks to personal relationships and mediations, not on the basis of merit and eligibility. The phenomenon of "wasta" that has spread in a number of public institutions is no longer just an individual behavior, but has turned into a deep-rooted pattern that consecrates discrimination and strikes at the heart of the principle of social justice, and its danger increases when it comes to a sensitive sector such as health, where professional performance is linked to the lives of citizens and the quality of services provided to them. When the owners of real competencies are excluded, and are replaced by those who obtained their positions through mediation, the result is a decline in the level of services, an increase in professional errors, and a loss of qualified young energies who find themselves facing frustration and despair or are looking for opportunities outside the country. Observers believe that this reality imposes the need for a deep reform that goes beyond official speeches to concrete measures that guarantee transparency and accountability, such as publishing the results of the exams in detail, and enabling independent bodies to monitor the conduct of the competitions, and linking responsibility to actual accountability.
