Evaluating Spatial Equity in Access to Primary Health Care Using GIS: Insights from Tangier City, Morocco

Primary Health Care (PHC) forms the cornerstone of healthcare systems, yet spatial disparities in access remain a persistent challenge, particularly in rapidly growing urban areas. This study leverages Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess the spatial accessibility of public PHC services in Tangier, Morocco, where urban expansion intensifies the need for equitable health service distribution.

The methodology integrates Service Area Analysis, Population Density mapping, and Health Facility Ratio (HFR) calculations. Walking time isochrones of 10, 20, and 30 minutes were generated around public PHC centers using the Valhalla Plugin in QGIS, offering a realistic measure of physical accessibility. Demographic data from the High Commission for Planning was combined with spatial layers of PHC locations to identify coverage gaps and assess service adequacy.

Results reveal significant inequalities across the five communes of Tangier. Central communes such as Charf-Souani exhibit high accessibility, with over 80% of residents within a 10-minute walk of a PHC. Conversely, peripheral areas such as Gueznaia show limited coverage, with less than 1% accessibility within the same walking radius. The HFR further highlights underserved areas, notably in high-density zones such asBnimakada, where the ratio remains critically low.

These findings underscore the pressing need for targeted health infrastructure planning to bridge accessibility gaps. The study demonstrates the power of GIS in guiding data-driven decisions to enhance health equity. Future work should expand the analysis to include private health providers and explore multimodal transportation impacts.