On the occasion of International Rare Disease Day, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health (FM6SS) and AstraZeneca marked a major milestone in improving rare disease care in Morocco with the soft opening of the Precision Medicine Hub at the Mohammed VI International University Hospital Complex in Rabat.
This initiative is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in July 2025 between FM6SS and AstraZeneca to establish a Rare Disease Center of Excellence (RD CoE). The goal is to transform the patient journey, reduce diagnostic delays, structure multidisciplinary care, and integrate genomic and molecular profiling into routine clinical practice.
The Precision Medicine Hub will enhance diagnosis and access to advanced technologies for patients with rare diseases while promoting translational research and innovative patient management models at the national level.
Amine Sekhri, Country Director at AstraZeneca, said:
“The opening of the Hub represents a concrete step toward our shared vision of a national Center of Excellence for rare diseases. We are committed to reducing diagnostic delays, expanding access to advanced genomic testing, and improving care outcomes for patients across Morocco.”
For FM6SS, Professor Saber Boutayeb, Director General of the Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation, stated:
“This Hub fulfills the promise of precision medicine for patients with rare diseases, offering better-structured national pathways and faster, more equitable care.”
The event also highlighted patient engagement as a central pillar, with a symbolic Wall of Imprints and a dedicated awareness space illustrating patient experiences and the importance of early diagnosis and coordinated care.
This collaboration exemplifies a structured partnership bringing together public institutions, healthcare professionals, industry, and patient communities to address persistent gaps in rare disease care in Morocco.
