Abstract
Background: A free obstetric care policy (FOCP) has been implemented in Morocco in 2008 in order to further decrease
maternal mortality.
Methods: Through in-depth interviews we explored the perceptions of health professionals in public Moroccan hospitals
with regard to fee exemption policies. We tried to understand what drives health professionals to ignore, modify or apply
a health policy as formulated.
Results: Respondents express significant influences of such policies on their work environment (higher workload and
scarcity of resources) and on the patient/provider relationship, both of which may cause a negative effect on health
workers’ motivation. A mix of motivational determinants incites health workers in their turn to influence policy
implementation.
Conclusion: Understanding the motivational determinants of health workers may optimize policy implementation at
the point of service delivery