Rabat – Hundreds of citizens and civil society groups gathered on Sunday evening in front of Hassan II Regional Hospital in Agadir to protest what they described as the “catastrophic” state of health services at the facility.
The protesters, surrounded by security forces, chanted angry slogans such as “The people want to end corruption” and “This is a shame, this is a scandal… a cemetery or a hospital?”.They called for more doctors, nurses, and medical equipment, especially in the maternity and emergency departments.
The demonstration came after at least six young women reportedly died in recent weeks following cesarean surgeries carried out under what families and activists called at the protest “questionable conditions.”
Among the protesters were patients whose conditions the hospital was unable to manage, including a young woman with a leg tumor that left her limb severely swollen, and an infant with the birth defect spina bifida, whose family said they were unable to access the necessary care.
A regional hub helplessly overwhelmed
Rights groups taking part in the protest said at the gathering that the hospital is overwhelmed with patients, suffers from a severe shortage of medical staff, and faces frequent breakdowns of diagnostic equipment. Many patients, they added, are forced to turn to expensive private clinics instead.
Some claimed that the hospital directed them to obtain tests and scans in private laboratories or clinics, rather than providing them on-site.
In addition to the Souss-Massa region, the hospital has long been serving distant regions such as Laayoune, Dakhla, and Guelmim, which has created heavy and growing pressure on its services.
Before the protest, regional health director Lamiae Chakri held a press conference expressing regret over the deaths. She said a central ministry committee has opened an investigation to focus on improving working conditions, providing essential medicines, and reinforcing staff.
She also shared figures showing that in the first half of 2025, the emergency department received more than 33,000 cases, around 250 each day. The hospital also carried out over 1,760 urgent surgeries and 3,000 births, including 668 cesarean deliveries.
Chakri pointed to a series of major projects, including a MAD 200 million plan to expand Hassan II Hospital, the opening of new facilities, the construction of proximity hospitals in several towns, the rehabilitation of existing ones, and the building of new hospitals in Taroudant and Ait Melloul to ease the burden on Inzegane.
The hospital care crisis in Agadir reflects wider problems in Morocco’s public health system. The government spends more than MAD 28 billion each year on health, yet citizens continue to complain about weak infrastructure, staff shortage, and long waiting times. Official data shows Morocco has fewer than eight doctors for every 10,000 people, way below the minimum necessary to reach sustainable development goals set by the United Nations (UN).
In recent years, authorities launched reforms under the national social protection project, promising to restructure the health sector. But observers argue that the pace of change is slow and does not meet the needs of people, particularly in southern and rural areas.
As major global tournaments are on the horizon in Morocco, including the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations in December and the FIFA World Cup in 2030, Moroccan health centers are feeling the pressure more than ever to make sure that they have working facilities for the influx of people that will flow into the country. Agadir in particular will hold matches at its Adrar Stadium, which is undergoing renovation, poised to bring an influx of people to the coastal city.
