Dozens of residents in Taounate took to the streets on Sunday to denounce the alarming decline of healthcare services in their region, demanding urgent measures to equip the regional hospital and properly staff rural health centers. Protesters voiced their frustration with chants such as «Go to Fes... Who will treat these people?», highlighting the fact that nearly all medical cases are now being transferred to Fes. The regional hospital, they argued, has been reduced to little more than a transit point. Participants expressed outrage over the severe lack of resources, noting that the CT scanner has been out of service and X-ray machines remain broken. Patients are forced to buy basic medical supplies from private pharmacies, or even rent equipment like blood sugar monitors, for use by medical staff. Testimonies also shed light on the absence of doctors in several communities, including Sidi Mokhfi, which has been without a physician for more than four years. The lack of qualified staff has even forced the closure of the area's only pharmacy, as there is no one authorized to issue prescriptions. Protesters also criticized local authorities, particularly after the regional governor inaugurated a private clinic, an act many saw as evidence of waning interest in public healthcare. Demonstrators called on the Ministry of Health and relevant authorities to intervene immediately to ease their suffering and guarantee access to adequate medical services.
