Yacout Info: How long has the Association been in existence and what is the theme of the conference ?

Doctor Azeddine Mdidech, member of the organizing committee for the conference: The Association was created fifteen years ago in 1995. We held regular meetings and since 2007, an annual conference in Marrakech. We have worked to make this an international as well as a national conference for cardiologists. This is how the "Printemps de Cardiologie" was established. We have cardiologists from all the major centers in Morocco as well as from other countries. The Association looks at new surgical techniques and covers all matters of interest to cardiologists. We are examining the risks to patients and all aspects of best practise so that we are up to date with all the new developments in cardiology. We have to cover all the risks to patients including diabetes which is increasing as well as cardiovascular disease and an increasing incidence of strokes, and speaking of diabetes there is a new public program where patients can obtain insulin free of charge.

We face difficulties in Morocco bacause of the cost of treatment and care of patients. Patients can become paralysed by strokes and the experience of our international colleagues is of major importance in this field. The incidence of increased associated illnesses leading to heart disease over the last few years now affects between a million to 1.5 million patients a year. There will certainly be many more in the coming years
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Q: How do you increase awareness of these conditions and the necessary treatment ?

Professor Boumzebra Drissi, member of the organising committee: In terms of cardiology it needs great efforts to increase awareness of the pathology and the risk to patients. The high incidence of diabetes has a major impact on the number of patients with heart disease.Diabetes affects circulation, the brain and attacks the small veIns which is very difficult to treat. The best treatment is prevention and early treatment when the condition is discovered. We need to have more awareness of how to prevent development of the disease. The Ministry of Health has a diabetes awareness programme. Patients need to avoid smoking, alchohol and reduce cholestorol.

In the 1970's Morocco started to invest in cardiology and now in the majority of the large cities in Morocco there is more awareness but we believe that this is still not enough. Morocco has a population of 35 million so we are working all over Morocco to create more awareness of the problems associated with heart disease and this is why I am here today. We believe that our conference in Marrakech has an important role to play.

This effort to increase awareness and to create more hospitals started 9 years ago and our colleague Professor Belhadj was one of the leaders of this campaign. Now we are using advanced keyhole surgery techniques instead of opening up the chest of a patient which leaves a deep scar and delays recovery, thus costing less for hospital treatment.

In Morocco we are still faced with many cases of congenital heart disease and rheumatic heart disease.It is our prime objective to find solutions to these cases. Our population is younger than Europe's and we still have many cases of undiagnosed chronic heart disease. In Mprocco the main cause of heart disease is rheumatic, whereas in Europe it is mainly a degenerative problem..

Q: Cardiac surgery is very expensive, how does the state deal with this ?

Professor Belhadj Miloud the Clinic Californie: There is now obligatory insurance which covers 54% of the Moroccan population. We have special provisions for patients who cannot pay the full cost of their treatment.

We now have many paying patients from sub saharan Africa who find it easier to come to Morocco be and many Moroccans as well as foreigners living and working in Europe and the United States prefer to come here for tratment as it is far less costly. Europeans are also ready to come to Morocco for treatment because their own health services are saturated. We have been acquiring the technology and equipment we need form Europe and the USA. Word has spread of our expertise in cardiology. There are foreigners now living in Morocco and some of these also require treatment.

Q: How do you compare the quality of treatment available in Morocco with the UK?

Dr Yen Ho, from London: The standard in Morocco is very high. The seminar yesterday brought up very relevant questions . I think Morocco is very up to date with the latest developments in cardiology and I am very impressed with the level of knowledge here.