Interconnected hospitals in Morocco symbolizing technical efficiency.

Is Your Healthcare System Working? New Study Reveals Efficiency Gaps in Moroccan Hospitals

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"An in-depth look at hospital efficiency in Morocco uncovers key challenges and opportunities for improvement. Learn how data-driven analysis can lead to better healthcare for all."

Healthcare systems worldwide face increasing pressure to deliver quality care while managing resources effectively. In Morocco, the public hospital network plays a vital role in providing essential medical services to the population. However, like many countries, Morocco grapples with challenges in ensuring its hospitals operate at peak efficiency.

A recent study published in October 26, 2023, delves into the technical efficiency of Morocco's public hospitals, employing a method called Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess how well these institutions are using their available resources. The findings offer valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the system, highlighting opportunities for improvement and a more sustainable healthcare future.

This article breaks down the study's key findings, exploring what they mean for patients, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in Morocco—and offering lessons that may resonate far beyond its borders. The study examines the technical efficiency of 77 public hospital networks from 2017 to 2020. Data was collected from the Directorate of Planning and Financial Resources (DPFR) of the Health Ministry of Morocco. The DEA method was employed, using three inputs (Hospital, Physician, and Paramedical) and four outputs (Functional capacity, Hospitalization days, and Admission). Additionally, the Malmquist index (MI) is utilized to analyze the factors of production, and peer modelling is incorporated to address hospital inefficiency.

Decoding Hospital Efficiency: What the Numbers Say

Interconnected hospitals in Morocco symbolizing technical efficiency.

The study's core methodology, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), provides a comprehensive way to measure efficiency. DEA assesses how well hospitals convert inputs (resources like staff, facilities, and funding) into outputs (services like patient care, surgeries, and admissions). By comparing hospitals to each other, DEA identifies best practices and highlights areas where improvements can be made.

The study's analysis of 77 public hospital networks in Morocco revealed that, on average, these networks could potentially reduce their inputs by 30.3% while still maintaining the same level of output. This suggests significant inefficiencies in resource allocation and utilization across the hospital system. Specifically, the study looked at several key factors:

Inputs: The resources hospitals use, including the number of hospitals, physicians, and paramedical staff.
Outputs: The services hospitals provide, measured by functional capacity, hospitalization days, and admissions.

Further analysis using the Malmquist index (MI) showed a decline in productivity gain in 2017-2018, followed by improvement in 2018-2019. These fluctuations indicate that the system's efficiency is not static and is subject to change over time. Peer modeling revealed that a significant percentage of hospitals should emulate the most effective hospitals to improve efficiency, pinpointing the need for knowledge sharing and best-practice adoption.

The Path Forward: How to Build a More Efficient Healthcare System

The study's findings point to the need for a more strategic approach to healthcare management in Morocco. By focusing on optimizing resource allocation, promoting knowledge sharing, and implementing data-driven decision-making, the public hospital network can improve its efficiency and deliver better healthcare services to the population.The study suggests several key strategies:

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Everything You Need To Know

What specific factors were analyzed to assess hospital efficiency in the study of Moroccan hospitals?

The study assessed hospital efficiency by examining inputs such as the number of Hospitals, Physicians, and Paramedical staff, and outputs including Functional capacity, Hospitalization days, and Admissions. These factors were crucial in applying Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to determine how effectively hospitals used their resources to provide services. The study also incorporated the Malmquist index (MI) to analyze productivity changes over time, alongside peer modeling to identify hospitals that could serve as benchmarks for others.

What is Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), and how was it used in the study?

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a method used to measure the efficiency of hospitals by assessing how well they convert inputs (resources like staff, facilities, and funding) into outputs (services like patient care, surgeries, and admissions). The study employed DEA to compare 77 public hospital networks in Morocco, evaluating how efficiently they utilized resources such as Hospital, Physician, and Paramedical staff to produce outputs like Functional capacity, Hospitalization days, and Admissions. DEA helps identify best practices and areas for improvement within the healthcare system.

What were the key findings regarding resource allocation and utilization in Moroccan public hospitals?

The study revealed that, on average, the Moroccan public hospital networks could potentially reduce their inputs by 30.3% while maintaining the same level of output, indicating significant inefficiencies in resource allocation and utilization. The study used DEA to evaluate the relationship between Inputs (Hospital, Physician, and Paramedical) and Outputs (Functional capacity, Hospitalization days, and Admissions), and these findings suggest that improvements in resource management could lead to considerable efficiency gains.

How did the Malmquist index (MI) contribute to the analysis of hospital efficiency, and what did its findings reveal about productivity changes?

The Malmquist index (MI) was used to analyze the factors of production within the Moroccan hospital networks. The study showed a decline in productivity gain in 2017-2018, followed by improvement in 2018-2019. These fluctuations indicate that the system's efficiency is not static and changes over time, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and adaptive strategies to enhance hospital performance.

What strategies were suggested to improve the efficiency of the Moroccan public healthcare system based on the study's findings?

The study suggests that a more strategic approach is needed to improve healthcare management in Morocco. This includes optimizing resource allocation, promoting knowledge sharing among hospitals, and implementing data-driven decision-making. Specifically, peer modeling showed that hospitals could improve by emulating the most effective hospitals. By focusing on these strategies, the public hospital network can enhance its efficiency and deliver better healthcare services to the population.