Maternal deaths in Agadir rekindles debate over women’s health care in Morocco

The recent death of a pregnant woman at Hassan II Regional Hospital in Agadir has reignited public and professional debate over maternal mortality in Morocco, with experts saying that while the country has made notable progress in reducing such deaths, persistent structural gaps continue to endanger women’s lives.

The Federation of Women’s Rights Leagues expressed “deep anger and concern” over the continuing deaths of women during childbirth, calling the October 7 incident in Agadir a “tragic reminder of the fragility of Morocco’s public health system, especially in rural and mountainous areas.”

In a statement shared with Hespress AR, the federation said investigations and emergency measures announced by the Ministry of Health “remain limited and insufficient, as they do not address the structural causes putting women and girls at risk.” These include “poor infrastructure, a lack of safe transport, shortages of medical staff, and persistent regional and social inequalities in access to care,” the group said.

Progress, but challenges persist

Morocco has cut maternal deaths by 70% between 2000 and 2020, according to Dr. Tayeb Hamdi, a physician and researcher in health policy. However, he noted, “the rate remains more than six times higher than the average in developed countries.”

“Maternal deaths fell from 244 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 72 in 2020,” Hamdi told Hespress AR. “In wealthier nations, the average is around 11, and in some, it’s half that.”

Hamdi credited Morocco’s progress to earlier health policies that made prenatal care, testing, and hospital deliveries free of charge. Yet he warned that gaps in prevention, transport, and coordination, particularly in remote regions, continue to cause avoidable deaths.

“Maternal mortality in rural areas is 2.5 times higher than in cities,” he said. “We need to bring services closer to women, ensure early prenatal follow-up, and improve coordination between health centers and hospitals.”

Hamdi also called for medical investigations into every maternal death to identify clinical or logistical failures and implement corrective action.

Delays and systemic barriers

Obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Khalid Fathi agreed that many deaths are linked to delays in providing timely care, both inside and outside hospitals.

“Every death related to pregnancy questions our health system,” he said. “Morocco has made great efforts given its resources, but the current rate, around 70 deaths per 100,000 live births, remains high. The national target is 20 by 2030.”

Fathi said several factors still impede progress: “At home, there are social, economic, and cultural barriers preventing women from accessing proper prenatal care. Poverty, lack of health education, and high illiteracy levels remain major contributors.”

He added that geographic isolation, poor road conditions, and inadequate transport also hinder access to hospitals, while bureaucratic delays in patient transfers often result in fatal outcomes. “Many deaths could have been avoided with better coordination and timely referrals,” Fathi said.

Toward local, accessible reproductive care

Fathi stressed that reproductive health must be available “close to women, when they need it, at acceptable standards and costs.” He described maternal health as a measure of national health security and called for urgent action as the number of cesarean deliveries rises and fewer doctors choose obstetrics.

“The decline in fertility, the growing preference for surgical births, and the rise of diseases complicating pregnancy will only increase risks,” he said, urging “out-of-the-box solutions.”

Among his recommendations: establishing maternity lodging facilities near regional hospitals where women from distant areas can stay before delivery, ensuring free maternal care, and allowing critical cases to be treated across both public and private sectors.

“The goal,” Fathi concluded, “is to save every woman whose death could have been prevented, and that requires fast, coordinated, and community-supported action.”