Beloved Orléans Doctor Retires at 72, Leaving Patients Concerned About Healthcare Access

This December 15th marked the last working day of Dr. Hassan Alaoui Mdaghri. At 72, he will officially retire in 10 days, on December 31st, reports La République du Centre. The general practitioner sits at his desk. "That day, for the last time, Dr. Hassan Alaoui Mdaghri listens, examines, prescribes. Like a normal day, he sees a bit of everything," the newspaper specifies. "I’m doing prescription renewals for diabetes, blood pressure... There are also people who come for the flu, a cold, a sick leave. I’ve always done consultations with and also without an appointment. It’s often full," says the Moroccan general practitioner. When asked what he feels as he is about to leave this place, Dr. Mdaghri replies: "I’m starting to saturate, to be tired. Like athletes, we’re out of breath. [...] I’ve seen quite a few colleagues have a stroke, a brain tumor or cancer. I want to take a break before having problems and not being able to enjoy it."

For the past year, he has been working less than usual. This doctor, trained in Lille, where he first practiced, before continuing in Morocco for thirteen years, then returning to Orléans in 2006, dedicates two days a week, Mondays and Fridays, to consultations instead of "big days" of nine hours. If he worked as much, it’s because he was the last liberal doctor installed in the city center, outside a health center. "Four doctors in the neighborhood left and were not replaced... It’s complicated to practice alone in private practice, there are a lot of administrative tasks," analyzes his wife, Viviane, who has been helping him with the secretariat since she retired.

His many patients will find themselves without a general practitioner who was much more than a caregiver. "He’s no longer a doctor, he’s like a father," expresses Eugène. Papy, who has been treated here for 17 years, believes that Dr. Mdaghri was part of the family. The Moroccan general practitioner expresses the same feeling. "I looked for replacements, but nothing. I never found any. I made a few recommendations for chronic patients who really need to find someone. The others, I’m aware that they’re going to struggle... Even if they understand that I have the right to rest. I think a lot about them, they’re kind of my family... I run into them in town, we greet each other."