OBJECTIVES: To provide an update overview on the current status of healthcare systems in the Maghreb region (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) and to emphasize the progress made in the midst of the challenges facing these countries.

METHODS: A descriptive comparative approach of healthcare systems in the three countries, based on data from sources with an established methodology, including descriptive healthcare data from the WHO database.

RESULTS: The population of the Maghreb will increase from 102 million to 132 million by 2050. The current population is mostly centered in Algeria and Morocco, accounting for 77%. Annual healthcare expenditure per capita is 447.9$, 776.8$ and 854.6$ in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, respectively. The average infant mortality rate per 1000 live improved to 10.9 in Tunisia, 16.8 in Morocco and 18.9 in Algeria. Maternal mortality rates have dropped to 43 and 48.5/100 000 births in Tunisia and Algeria, respectively while remaining relatively high in Morocco: 72.6. Number of hospital beds/1000 inhabitants is only 1.1 in Morocco, 1.9 and 2.9 in Algeria and Tunisia, respectively. The number of physicians/1000 people was 0.73 in Morocco, 1.3 in Tunisia and 1.72 in Algeria. This remains considerably low compared to the 3.9/1000 in Europe. The Maghreb countries are currently facing an exodus of physicians, mainly to France, which represents 7.1% and 10.7% of Tunisians and Moroccans, respectively, and more than 24% for Algerians. The Maghreb countries were very early mobilized (governments, ministries of health, civil society) to fight against COVID-19 and have successfully controlled the pandemic, according to pre-established control strategies and the strongly commitment of health professional.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the considerable progress made, the Maghreb countries still face major challenges. Physicians migration, rising cost of care and endemic infectious disease outbreaks constitute a huge hurdle on the already overburdened and resilient healthcare systems