In Kenitra, around twenty civil society organisations have issued a stark warning over the Azzamouri provincial hospital and, more broadly, the Kenitra health system, which they say is at risk of gradual collapse.
Kenitra health system: what to know
In an open letter sent to the director general of the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra territorial health group, the NGOs say they have observed a “setback after the optimism” that followed the appointment of a new director for Azzamouri hospital.
According to the letter, this manager had already been dismissed from the Sidi Slimane hospital. His time there is described as limited to redirecting patients to Kenitra, without any real improvement in services. For the signatories, this appointment gives “the impression of a reward for loyalty rather than for concrete results”.
The text goes further and denounces a “scourge of appointments and political loyalties” that would extend beyond Azzamouri hospital to the wider administration of the health group.
Claims of corruption and mistreatment
The NGOs say the Health Ministry has already been informed of the scale of the difficulties in Kenitra. They argue these problems are creating a risk of “service collapse and the return of dysfunctions” throughout the Kenitra health system.
The letter points to several worrying trends:
- the return of corruption and mistreatment of patients
- disregard for citizens’ complaints
- diverting some procedures towards the private sector
According to the signatories, Azzamouri hospital, which until now had offered “a minimum of dignity despite limited resources”, is experiencing a “progressive collapse” in its capacity to receive and care for patients.
An open petition and what it means for families abroad
In response, the civil society groups have launched a petition open to residents of Kenitra and beyond, aiming to pressure health authorities into taking swift and concrete action.
For Moroccans living abroad, this crisis is more than a local story. Many have parents and relatives in the area who depend on this public hospital for emergencies and routine care.
During trips back home, families often turn first to public facilities, and only then, if needed, to private clinics. A deterioration of the Kenitra health system could therefore affect how people plan their visits, which cities they stay in, and how they budget for unexpected medical costs for loved ones in Morocco.
Beyond Kenitra, the NGOs’ alarm highlights a broader issue: trust in public health services and the ability of regional hospitals to provide a basic level of quality and dignity for patients, whether they live in Morocco or return from abroad for limited stays.
While an official response is still awaited, residents and families concerned are encouraged to follow developments closely, through local information channels and civil society initiatives.
For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.
For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.
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