The much-anticipated launch of the Akdital hospital complex in Rabat came to an abrupt halt just days after opening. Though it had been inaugurated with great fanfare in the upscale Agdal district, the facility was forced to suspend operations following an order from Mohamed El Yaacoubi, governor of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region. The shutdown was prompted by serious regulatory breaches related to its compliance process.
This unexpected turn comes despite the hospital having secured an official certificate of conformity from the relevant authorities on June 13, which allowed it to begin operations. The clinic opened its doors to the public on June 17. However, just three days later, the green light was revoked through Rokhas, Morocco’s digital platform for managing administrative permits. That notification abruptly halted the hospital’s initial trial phase and triggered a wave of scrutiny into the rushed conditions under which it had opened.
At the heart of the controversy are substantial violations of approved construction plans. A joint inspection team—comprising representatives from the governor’s office, the urban planning agency, the Health Ministry, and civil protection services-identified multiple discrepancies between the original, authorized blueprints and what was actually built. Akdital had made significant changes to the layout without prior approval, a clear breach of the regulatory framework that governs healthcare facilities.
Making matters worse, the publicly listed company had already opened the hospital before completing its final certification process-reversing the required timeline and sidestepping established protocols. Once informed, the governor ordered a full shutdown until Akdital could bring the facility back into legal compliance.
The fallout was immediate. The clinic was closed, construction crews were called back on site, and remedial work began almost immediately. Certain interior structures were demolished, while others were reconfigured to meet the requirements laid out by the inspection team. Akdital is now expected to submit a revised architectural plan for approval before it can consider reopening.
This incident has cast a harsh light on the approval and oversight mechanisms involved in the construction of healthcare facilities. The Rabat urban planning agency, accused of lax supervision, has reportedly faced internal repercussions. One senior official was transferred to Salé and then reassigned quietly. Meanwhile, the head of the Agdal district was formally reprimanded for failing to flag discrepancies at the end of construction.
The controversy has dealt a blow to Akdital’s ambitions in the capital. The group had hoped to establish the Rabat facility as a flagship center of medical excellence. With a portfolio of more than 38 healthcare establishments nationwide and revenues surpassing two billion dirhams in the first half of the year alone, the company’s reputation is now under pressure.
A follow-up inspection is expected once renovations are complete. If the updated plans align with the necessary standards and are formally approved, the hospital will be permitted to resume operations. In the meantime, questions remain about how such a critical facility was allowed to open without full regulatory clearance-and who should be held accountable for that failure.
