A Deepening Crisis in Public Health at Agadir's University Hospital
The public health sector in Agadir is currently facing a significant crisis, primarily due to an ongoing social and administrative conflict that has rendered healthcare structures inoperable. A staggering 110 employees, including four who are currently residing abroad, have outright refused to take on their new roles at the Hassan II University Hospital Center. This situation underscores severe systemic dysfunctions, particularly evident in the payment of salaries to inactive staff members while critical shortages plague emergency and oncology services.
As reported by _Al Akhbar_, the roots of this discontent can be traced back to March, when Tarik El Harti, the General Director of the Territorial Health Grouping, initiated an internal transfer operation. This decision sparked considerable backlash from several doctors and nurses, who opposed the very principle of being reassigned to the Mohammed VI University Hospital Center, perceiving it as a significant disruption to their professional standing. In light of this widespread refusal, the management sought to address the situation by individually summoning the affected staff to encourage them to comply with their new postings. However, this approach was met with a blanket rejection, supported by various trade unions advocating for the dissenting employees.
The crisis escalated further when investigations uncovered a paradoxical administrative reality. Approximately 110 civil servants, despite being officially attached to health structures since March and regularly receiving their salaries, have not performed any professional duties. Alarmingly, some of these individuals are living abroad while still drawing salaries from the health ministry’s budget. For instance, one doctor assigned to the University Hospital has not conducted a single surgical procedure since 2019, raising serious concerns about human resource management and absenteeism within the institution.
The daily report highlights that the Hassan II University Hospital Center is grappling with a chronic shortage of healthcare personnel, which severely affects nursing staff, technicians, and social workers. This imbalance significantly compromises the quality of services available to the public. The emergency department at the hospital, which serves as the main entry point for patients across the region, sometimes has as few as six nurses on duty to manage medical care, which is grossly insufficient given the high population density and the daily influx of patients from southern provinces. Furthermore, the oncology department operates with only two nurses during the summer months, while a considerable number of nursing graduates currently unemployed are challenging the administrative inertia that denies them professional opportunities in the face of such pressing needs.
In light of these troubling findings, _Al Akhbar_ reports that the General Administration of the Territorial Health Grouping is preparing to initiate institutional responses. They intend to commence procedures for job abandonment against the recalcitrant employees, regardless of their roles in medical, paramedical, technical, or administrative capacities. This unwavering decision comes despite the significant deficits recorded within the University Hospital, reflecting the ministry's intent to restore administrative discipline and address persistent structural dysfunctions that have long impeded the public health service's efficiency and benefitted the general interest.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
