Marrakech – The Association of Private Clinics (ANCP) and healthcare group Akdital have strongly contested recent statements made by Health Minister Amine Tehraoui regarding subsidies to private healthcare facilities.
The controversy erupted following the minister’s October 1 announcement before Parliament’s Social Sectors Commission that he had requested the termination of investment subsidies to private clinics.
In an open letter to the minister, the ANCP expressed “surprise” at these declarations, stating that to their knowledge, none of their member clinics have ever received public subsidies for either operations or equipment. The association, which represents the majority of private healthcare facilities across Morocco, called for transparency on the matter.
“We request the minister to specify the legal texts or regulatory provisions referring to these subsidies, with complete publication of the relevant list, to ensure total transparency for our citizens,” the ANCP stated in their letter.
The association warned that such statements could create confusion among the public and convey an inaccurate image of a sector that has been contributing to the national healthcare mission alongside the state system for decades.
“Private clinics serve thousands of patients annually who freely choose to receive care in our facilities, actively participating in the development of the national healthcare system,” the ANCP added.
Akdital Group, which operates the largest network of private hospitals and clinics in Morocco with 4,293 medical beds distributed across 41 establishments in 24 Moroccan cities and 8,700 professionals, also issued a categorical denial of receiving any public support.
In a statement released Monday, the company asserted: “Akdital Group has never benefited from public or government investment support, either directly or indirectly.”
The healthcare provider, which is listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange, pointed to its financial transparency obligations under the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC) regulations.
“All accounts and quarterly and annual financial reports of the Group are accessible to the public on the websites of the AMMC, the Casablanca Stock Exchange, and Akdital Group,” the statement noted.
Akdital explained that all its investments are financed through self-funding, bank loans, and capital raised on the national stock market.
Despite this, the group referenced its public service mission, noting its presence across all 12 regions of Morocco, including southern provinces like Laayoune, Dakhla, and Guelmim, as well as medium-sized cities such as Errachidia, Essaouira, and Nador.
“The investments made by Akdital in these regions, combined with the creation of over 200 jobs for young Moroccans per clinic – the majority being women – fully meet the criteria of the Investment Charter, making the Group eligible for public investment support. However, Akdital reaffirms that it has never benefited from this support,” the statement clarified.
Both the ANCP and Akdital have joined forces in calling for the Health Ministry to publish the complete list of healthcare establishments that have allegedly received public investment support, in the interest of clarity and transparency for Moroccan citizens.
