Rabat – Hajar Idrissi Janati, a 27-year-old Moroccan-British healthcare professional, has offered a fascinating glimpse into her pivotal role as the Private Patients Sales Manager at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.
Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals are global leaders in heart and lung care, treating patients with complex and rare conditions.
Renowned for pioneering groundbreaking surgeries and treatments, the hospitals have achieved several milestones such as performing Europe’s first successful heart and lung transplant. In addition, the hospitals recently developed new endoscopic surgical procedures to repair or replace damaged aortic, mitral, or tricuspid valves.
As part of Guy’s & St Thomas’ Specialist Care, Janati oversees referrals for private patients both nationally and internationally.
Her role extends beyond traditional sales management.
“I also build and maintain strong relationships with referring physicians, specialists, and other healthcare providers, as well as international sponsors, to facilitate business and ensure smooth care provision,” she told Morocco World News in an exclusive interview late last week.
Throughout the interview, Janati notably shared her vision for Morocco’s healthcare sector, emphasizing its potential to become a hub for complex surgical approaches and high-end research by 2029.
Vision for Morocco’s healthcare sector
“I constantly reflect my interest in Morocco as well as the wider African continent at every opportunity,” stated Janati.
With the right partnerships and support, she argued with confidence, Morocco can advance its health services and meet universal health coverage goals by 2030.
“We are open to exploring new collaboration opportunities with healthcare institutions in Morocco,” Janati articulated. The goal, she added, is to forge a sustainable and impactful healthcare alliance that promotes training, clinical practice, and research to enhance clinical programs.
For Janati, Morocco has been actively broadening its market focus, notably strengthening ties with the UK, which are now deemed of substantial strategic value.
She noted that expanding into the health sector presents a vital opportunity for both public and private health entities in Morocco.
The potential advantages include enhanced care quality in cardiology and pulmonology, the introduction of advanced medical technologies, capacity building, and improved patient outcomes.
Through her role and research, Janati is making significant strides in bridging healthcare advancements between Morocco and the UK, setting the stage for future collaborative successes.
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Financial stewardship is a critical aspect of Janati’s responsibilities. She monitors revenue streams, analyzes sales data, and seeks growth opportunities. “It’s rewarding to contribute to a renowned National Health Service (NHS) trust where income from private services is reinvested to benefit all patients,” she noted.
Parallel to her professional duties, Janati is currently pursuing a PhD at University College London (UCL) Global Business School for Health. Her research explores the Moroccan government’s engagement with the private sector to enhance Primary Health Care, aligning with Morocco’s Universal Health Coverage goals for 2030.
Morocco’s healthcare under scrutiny
Morocco’s healthcare system is currently grappling with significant turmoil, as ongoing strikes by healthcare professionals highlight deep-seated frustrations within the sector.
These disruptions reflect demands for comprehensive reforms to address critical issues such as inadequate funding, staffing shortages, and outdated infrastructure. Healthcare workers have expressed their dissatisfaction with poor working conditions and low wages, which are adversely affecting patient care.
On July 10, a large-scale protest saw health professionals march from Bab El Had in Rabat to the parliament, voicing their grievances over what they described as the government’s failure to meet their demands.
The situation extends beyond healthcare workers to medical students, who have also been participating in nationwide strikes.
They are primarily protesting the government’s decision to reduce medical studies from seven to six years.
Medical students are also criticizing the growing number of students and the inadequacy of educational infrastructure, which they argue leads to overcrowding and compromises the quality of their education and training. Another issue that protesting students highlighted is the lack of sufficient financial aid.
A 2022 report by Morocco’s National Commission of Medical Students revealed that 92% rely on family financial support to complete their studies, with 58% reporting changes in their eating habits due to financial constraints.
To address some of these challenges, Morocco is trying to advance a comprehensive health reform plan focused on achieving universal healthcare coverage. This initiative aims to guarantee that every citizen can access essential medical services regardless of their financial situation, while also ensuring that medical students receive high-quality education and training.
Global impact and innovations
Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals are celebrated globally for their expertise in heart and lung care. “We’re known for pioneering surgeries and treatments,” Janati remarked.
She emphasized that recent advancements include Europe’s “first successful heart and lung transplant and innovative keyhole surgical procedures for valve repair and replacement.” She explained: “Our keyhole heart valve service won the LaingBuisson ‘Innovation in Technology’ award in 2023.”
Meanwhile, she highlighted the hospital’s strategic vision of global expansion, noting that this approach is integral to their operations.
Janati also recalled the ongoing partnership with Ain Shams University in Egypt. Since 2019, the hospital has been developing a specialized aortic surgery program with the institution.
Ain Shams University holds the 2nd position for Medicine in Egypt and ranks 429 globally, with a total of 31,422 publications and 267,916 citations. Additionally, its hospitals are ranked 45th among the top 100 hospitals worldwide, according to the American Brand Finance AMCS classifications.
Using a multidisciplinary approach with clinical care, education and research excellence at its core, this partnership is set to deliver a top-tier and sustainable service at the hospital.
Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of Ain Shams University, said that this alliance is a key component of their project to develop Ain Shams University Medical City. He emphasized the goal of establishing the region’s premier aortic surgery center, aiming to elevate healthcare standards in Egypt and beyond.
This partnership signifies a major step forward in integrating world-class expertise and resources to address cardiac health challenges on an international scale, setting a new benchmark for medical and healthcare services across Egypt and potentially impacting neighboring countries.
Moroccan-UK Future Healthcare collaborations
Looking ahead, Janati is keen to establish further international partnerships, especially with Moroccan healthcare institutions. “We aim to leverage our expertise to create sustainable healthcare alliances, promote training, and enhance clinical programs in Morocco,” she said.
One of her goals through these partnerships is to boost Morocco’s clinical performance, technological advancements, and research, particularly in cardiology and pulmonology.
“I personally encourage such partnerships to break through between the UK and Morocco, especially in the healthcare realm,” she stressed, explaining that this can be achieved through fellowships, visiting doctor programs, support in specific services, and conducting gap analyses in collaboration with healthcare facilities.
The partnership comes amid strengthened Morocco-UK cooperation at different levels, including education, economics, and healthcare.
Recent developments reflect a growing commitment from both nations to work together on initiatives that offer mutual benefits. Educational exchanges and joint programs are strengthening academic connections, while economic collaborations are fostering trade and investment opportunities.
In February, the UK embassy facilitated a delegation visit from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), aiming to share expertise in infrastructure and major project development. This visit showcased the ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral ties, with both countries demonstrating a renewed focus on enhancing relations, particularly in trade and political dialogue, following Brexit.
