1,900 billion DZ allocated but Algeria still ill

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s latest statement concerning health issues was a direct order to reconsider the health policy and call for a new strategy meant to meet people’s expectations.

• Billions of Algerian dinars have been allocated for the management of the health system for many years. In 2008, the budget of the health ministry was estimated at more than 1,900 billion DZ. It was meant to support the health system by setting up additional structures in various provinces.
• The health plan which was presented at the cabinet now needs a supervising strategy. It was supposed to reform the health sector by 2025 in return for 181,963 billion DZ.
• Algeria’s population is expected to reach about 40 million by 2025. That would have an impact on the economy and society. Because of that, the health ministry will have to speed up the reforms and improve treatment levels by focusing on prevention.
• In this regard, the ministry prepared a programme of 88 public hospitals, 94 specialised clinics, four specialised local institutes and 221 health centres.
• The government plans to establish a central local agency for pharmaceutical products and generic medicines promotion.
• Former health minister Ammar Tou started conducting the main points of the reform before Said Barkat was appointed at the head of the ministry.