Morocco's Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amin Tahraoui, presented on Monday before Parliament the progress made under the National Program to Reduce Territorial and Social Disparities in Rural Areas within the health sector. The minister's presentation comes after a wave of youth-led protests under the GenZ212 movement, during which young Moroccans called for better access to healthcare and quality education, demands that were echoed in the recent Royal Speech at the opening of Parliament, which emphasized the need to accelerate social and territorial equity. Tahraoui explained that between 2017 and 2023, a total of 1,816 health projects were planned and approved by the National Committee for Rural and Mountain Area Development, with an overall budget nearing 1.7 billion dirhams. Regarding construction progress, 431 building projects, or 79% of those planned, have been completed, while 113 remain under implementation. The minister also reported the completion of 706 rehabilitation operations, including expansion, renovation, and reorganization works, with 190 more underway. As for medical transport, 95% of the planned vehicles, a total of 876 units, have been procured. These include 648 ambulances, 198 mobile units, and 30 other vehicles, while 44 units are still being acquired. Currently, 24 hospital projects are under construction for the 2025–2026 period, with a combined capacity of 2,273 beds, in addition to 20 more projects planned for 2027, which will add another 2,430 beds, he added. Construction is also progressing rapidly on university hospital centers, particularly the CHU of Laayoune, which will offer 500 beds and is expected to open by the end of the year. Other university hospitals in Rabat, Béni Mellal, Guelmim, and Errachidia are scheduled for completion by 2027, ensuring that each region has access to modern academic medical facilities. In parallel, the minister announced an urgent nationwide program to renovate and upgrade 91 hospitals, aimed at making Morocco's healthcare system more efficient, accessible, and closer to citizens.
