Health Minister Amine Tehraoui has officially launched two new healthcare facilities in Morocco’s southern region, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to modernize its national health system. The inauguration of the new provincial hospital in Tarfaya and the first-level urban health center “Attaawoun” in Laayoune took place in the presence of regional officials, including Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra’s Wali, Abdeslam Bekrat, and Tarfaya’s Governor, Mohamed Hamim. The event was part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Green March and aligns with King Mohammed VI’s directives to overhaul and strengthen public healthcare across the country.
The launch of these new medical centers is a major step forward in expanding access to healthcare in Morocco’s southern provinces. It reflects the government’s ongoing push toward universal health coverage and broader social protection reforms aimed at reducing regional disparities.
The Tarfaya Provincial Hospital, built on an eight-hectare site with over 7,300 square meters of developed space, represents a 60 million dirham investment. With a 70-bed capacity, the hospital is designed to ease the burden on regional medical facilities and improve local access to essential services for more than 16,000 residents. The hospital is staffed by a team of 102 healthcare professionals, including 13 doctors, 60 nurses and technicians, and 29 administrative personnel.
Meanwhile, the new Attaawoun health center in Laayoune is set to serve a population of around 20,400 people. Offering a full range of services—from general consultations and emergency care to maternal health, chronic disease management, and school health services—it also includes preventive care and an epidemiological surveillance unit. A key feature of the center is its integrated digital health system based on electronic medical records, designed to ensure seamless, coordinated care throughout the region.
As part of the same visit, the Health Minister also inspected the recently upgraded rural health center in Tah, a small community within the Tarfaya province. Now equipped with modern medical equipment and four full-time nurses, the facility was renovated with a budget of 2.6 million dirhams. It also utilizes the electronic medical record system to improve patient management. The center provides primary healthcare services to about 900 residents.
These new investments highlight Morocco’s commitment to closing the healthcare gap between urban and rural areas, with a clear focus on transforming the southern provinces into fully integrated hubs for healthcare and human development.
