Minister of Health and Social Protection Amine Tahraoui appeared before the Social Sectors Commission on Wednesday, where he outlined achievements from 2022 to 2025 and detailed projects planned through 2027. The late-night hearing came amid ongoing street protests marked by heightened tensions. As part of efforts to strengthen Morocco's healthcare infrastructure, 22 projects launched between 2022 and 2025 have added a total capacity of 2,433 beds, said Minister of Health and Social Protection Amine Tahraoui. Speaking on Wednesday before the Social Sectors Committee in the House of Representatives on «the current state of the healthcare system and the measures taken to accelerate its reform to guarantee citizens' right to care», he noted that 24 ongoing projects will add another 2,273 beds, while 20 additional projects planned for 2027 are expected to provide 2,430 beds. The session took place amid ongoing Generation Z protests, which have spread daily since the weekend of September 27–28. In several cities, youth-led gatherings have voiced demands for quality public education, accessible healthcare, and stronger action against corruption. The past two nights, however, saw violent escalations: public and private property was vandalized, and in Inezgane-Aït Melloul province, two people were killed after gendarmes in Leqliaa used their service weapons to repel an attack on their headquarters. A University Hospital in Every Region In his address, Tahraoui stressed the need to heed the demands raised by youth. «The problems in the sector are chronic and cumulative», he said, while underlining that the ongoing reform aims to meet citizens' expectations for «quality services that respect dignity and are accessible in all regions». The minister highlighted the 22 regional projects underway. Examples include: - Al Hoceïma Provincial Hospital Center (250 beds) - Figuig proximity hospital (45 beds) - Diouch CHP (150 beds) - Kenitra hospital (450 beds) - Moulay Youssef Hospital in Rabat (300 beds) - Lalla Aïcha Hospital in Temara (250 beds) - Errachidia hospital extension (160 beds) - Tinghir regional hospital (250 beds) Between 2025 and 2026, 24 more projects from Tetouan to Dakhla will create facilities ranging from 30 to 250 beds, depending on their specialty. Tahraoui also cited progress in university hospital centers (CHUs): the Mohammed VI CHU in Tangier (797 beds, now operational); the Agadir CHU (867 beds, under construction); the Laayoune CHU (500 beds); and the new Ibn Sina CHU in Rabat (1,044 beds). By 2027, seven regions are expected to each have a CHU, with projects in Laayoune, Guelmim, Beni Mellal, and Errachidia underway, complementing those already in Rabat, Fez, Marrakech, and Oujda. Human Resources: A Persistent Challenge Tahraoui also reported on the rehabilitation of 1,400 primary healthcare facilities across 76 provinces. So far, 945 centers have been fully rehabilitated, 405 are under construction, and 50 more are planned. He acknowledged, however, that infrastructure alone cannot resolve the sector's gaps, particularly at the regional and territorial levels. «There is no immediate solution to the shortage of human resources», he admitted. «But we do have a vision, with the creation of new training institutions and the expansion of capacity in existing ones». Public dissatisfaction with hospital services has been acute in several cities, including Agadir, Tiznit, Meknes, Taounate, and Essaouira. Following Tahraoui's recent visit to Agadir, officials at the Hassan II Regional Hospital Center were dismissed.
