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Rabat – Today, Agadir hosted the first board meeting of the Territorial Health Group (GST) of Souss-Massa, chaired by the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch.
The meeting marks a further step in Morocco’s shift toward a regional model for managing public healthcare, part of a broader reform driven by royal directives aimed at overhauling the national health system.
The new structure follows similar launches in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima and Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, reflecting a gradual nationwide rollout of territorial health governance.
Authorities present it as a new framework that gives regions more responsibility over planning, coordination, and delivery of healthcare services, while aligning provision more closely with local realities.
Budget and structure approved ahead of 2026 launch
The board approved the group’s 2026 budget and its operational plan for 2026-2027. It also validated its organizational chart and adopted a standard framework for health professionals working under the new system. Officials confirmed that the Souss-Massa Territorial Health Group will become operational in August 2026.
The reform introduces a governance approach that places regional structures at the center of decision-making. It aims to link hospitals, primary care centers, and university facilities within a unified system that better reflects territorial needs.
Souss-Massa at the center of national health priorities
Officials underlined the strategic role of Souss-Massa in Morocco’s health map, given its population growth and development pace.
Attention turned to the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Agadir, which opened in 2025 with 867 beds and serves around three million people from the region and nearby provinces. It also stands out as the first hospital in Africa to use robotic surgery for complex minimally invasive procedures with three-dimensional precision.
The region also prepares for a major upgrade of the Hassan II Regional Hospital in Agadir, which will offer 450 beds. Works are set to begin before the end of the year.
New model places medical governance at core of reform
The Director General of the Territorial Health Group, Tarik El Harti, presented the organizational and financial setup of the new structure. He described medical governance as the foundation of the reform and a key condition for its success.
The regional medical program will guide how services are planned and organized. It will also regulate patient pathways and strengthen coordination between primary care, hospitals, and university-level services. Officials placed particular attention on family medicine as the first point of contact in the health system, aimed at improving patient orientation and reducing pressure on hospitals.
Human resources and digital systems form key pillars
The meeting also reviewed measures related to health workforce development, including continuous training and efforts to attract more medical and paramedical staff to regional facilities.
Participants also called for faster rollout of an integrated health information system, seen as essential for coordination, monitoring, and more efficient use of resources.
The reform forms part of a wider national shift toward a more structured and region-based health system designed to improve access to care and strengthen overall performance.
