Dr. Ahmed Chekairi, a Moroccan-born anaesthetist trained in Oxford and with 25 years of NHS experience, has launched For Better Health, a UK-standard primary care initiative in Morocco. His goal is to transform community healthcare access across the country, combining digital tools, affordable services, and public health outreach. In the bustling corridors of London's top private hospitals, Dr. Ahmed Chekairi is a familiar figure. A seasoned anaesthetist with over two decades of experience in the UK, he is also the founder of an ambitious primary care initiative reshaping community healthcare in Morocco. But before all this, the Khouribga-native was just a young medical student with a dream, one that would take him far beyond Morocco's borders. Ahmed, who later lived in the Atlas Mountains and then in Mohammedia, began medical school at Hassan II University in Casablanca in 1987. After completing his training at Ibn Rochd Hospital, he made a pivotal decision: to pursue his postgraduate studies not in France or Belgium, as many of his peers did, but in the UK, specifically in London. That choice was sparked by a summer trip he took during his second year of medical school. «During the summer holidays in my second year of medical school, I visited London and stopped by University College Hospital, where I ended up in one of the oldest libraries in the world», he recalled. «That's when I decided that I wanted to do my training there». A plan not just a dream Determined to make it happen, he turned that dream into a plan. «I began learning English. I spent part of my university grant on language lessons and never missed a session for five years», he said. «When I completed my degree, I took the UK exams, unaware at the time that my diploma wasn't recognized. Luckily, just before I graduated, Prince Charles visited Morocco and the UK officially recognized our medical doctorates», he shared with Yabiladi. That recognition paved the way. In 1996, Ahmed moved to the UK. A year later, he passed the conversion exam. «I took the exam, which covered both medicine and English, and I think I was the first Moroccan to take it», he proudly recalled. Dr. Chekairi's early years in the UK were full of both excitement and challenge. «The UK system was very different. At first, you applied for short-term posts in various departments. It was flexible and allowed you to test what suited you best. I appreciated that». After rotations in emergency medicine in Scotland and Manchester, he settled into anaesthesia and intensive care, training for seven years at Oxford University Hospitals. «When it came to anaesthesia and postgraduate training, I was likely also the first Moroccan to complete the entire program in Oxford». For 25 years, Dr. Chekairi worked in the National Health Service (NHS), the publicly funded healthcare system of the United Kingdom, serving in hospitals across Northampton, Winchester, and Manchester, and holding leadership, education, and research roles. «All my training and work were in the NHS», he said. In 2008, he became a hospital consultant after earning a master's degree in management. «Being a hospital consultant meant juggling many responsibilities», he admitted. For Better Health Eventually, his focus shifted. In 2022, he left the NHS to dedicate himself fully to his private practice and a growing vision: transforming healthcare delivery in Morocco. That vision is For Better Health (FBH), a company he founded in 2018. Initially a training and consultancy venture, FBH supported Moroccan institutions like Sheikh Khalifa Hospital, the International University of Rabat, and OFPPT. «But uptake was limited. So I told my team: if we can't do it through others, let's do it ourselves», he explained. In 2024, he launched FBH's first medical centre in Mohammedia, offering integrated care based on UK standards. «It's probably the first UK-standard medical centre in Morocco focused entirely on family medicine and primary care». For Dr. Chekairi, this model is more than a business, it's a necessity. «In the UK, it is an obligation for a citizen to be registered with a family doctor. It's not just a right, it's a requirement. That's the backbone of the healthcare system», he noted. «You need a system with controls. Things that can be done near home should be done there. It's more convenient and economical. Hospitals are expensive and overcrowded», he continued. Community healthcare access The FBH centre currently employs 15 people and offers a wide range of services, from consultations, blood tests, ultrasounds, ECG, day hospital services to treatment for minor procedures like stitches or asthma attacks. Dr. Chekairi's plan is to replicate the model across the country. «Our goal is to expand to urban and rural areas. Casablanca is our hub, but we want to reach places like Azilal or Tinghir», he hoped. Affordability is also central to his mission. «I would love for people not to have to pay, but all the investment came from my daughter's money. So yes, we are private, but we provide discounts through associations, and many received free care during our first months». Public health outreach is a major part of FBH's mission. «We've worked to promote measles vaccination, encouraged women to follow up on pregnancies and screenings. We've held 35 health awareness sessions so far», Dr. Chekairi shared. The FBH model is fully digital and paperless. Patients receive a lifelong health file and generic prescriptions to reduce costs. «We're ahead of the curve, and we believe the Ministry will eventually mandate these practices». He still commutes between London and Morocco, balancing advanced surgical care in the UK with community health efforts in his home country. «In the UK, I care for one patient at a time. In Morocco, I try to impact an entire community. That contrast keeps me going», he explained. Now in the final stretch of his career, Dr. Chekairi is fully focused on leaving behind a lasting healthcare legacy in Morocco. «All the experience I've gained over the years — I'm investing it now in this project. It's likely the last major thing I'll do in my professional life».
