Introduction to the Regional Health Group's First Council Meeting
On Tuesday, June 10, 2026, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhnoosh presided over the inaugural council meeting of the Regional Health Group in Fes-Meknes. This significant event is part of the ongoing efforts to reform the national healthcare system, aimed at establishing a more effective and equitable health framework in accordance with royal directives. During his opening remarks, Akhnoosh emphasized that the launch of the regional health group represents a crucial step towards implementing modern health governance that prioritizes citizen proximity, enhances service quality, and improves coordination among various healthcare institutions.
Fes-Meknes: A Vital Component of National Healthcare Reform
Prime Minister Akhnoosh highlighted the critical role of the Fes-Meknes region within the national healthcare system, noting that it is home to approximately 4.5 million residents, which accounts for nearly 12% of Morocco's total population. Furthermore, the rural population in this region constitutes around 36% of its total inhabitants. These statistics underscore the urgent need to promote equitable access to healthcare services and bring healthcare closer to citizens, which are among the primary challenges this reform initiative aims to tackle.
The Prime Minister called upon all stakeholders to intensify their efforts and expedite the construction and rehabilitation of regional and provincial hospitals outlined in the emergency plan designed to improve healthcare offerings in the region. During the meeting, the action plan for the regional health group for the year 2026 was reviewed, along with its budget, organizational structure, and several proposed decisions that were discussed and approved.
Furthermore, the meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of streamlining patient care pathways within the region by enhancing the integration between primary healthcare institutions and hospitals. This approach aims to improve patient referrals across different levels of treatment, thereby alleviating pressure on various healthcare facilities and enhancing the quality of services provided to patients.
The regional health group is expected to play a pivotal role in coordinating healthcare delivery at the regional level, addressing the needs of health institutions, and optimizing the use of human and medical resources available, based on efficiency, proximity, and territorial equity. Participants also stressed the necessity of continuing to upgrade health infrastructure and advancing digital transformation within the healthcare sector while reinforcing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to align with national health reform objectives.
Human resources remain a critical factor in the success of this transformation, and there is a strong emphasis on developing and implementing the regional medical program as a strategic tool for organizing healthcare delivery in line with the specific needs of the Fes-Meknes region. It was further acknowledged that the training and management of healthcare professionals are essential to ensure the continuity and quality of health services provided to citizens.
The Fes-Meknes region boasts an important healthcare network consisting of 427 primary healthcare institutions and proximity services, as well as a hospital network that includes five university hospitals and 14 regional and provincial hospitals alongside proximity centers. At the forefront of these institutions is the Hassan II University Hospital in Fes, recognized as one of the leading university health centers in the country.
As reported by mcg24.com.
