Health Minister scolds 400 money-hungry and neglectful private clinics

Algerian Minister of health, population and hospital reform, Abdelmalek Boudiaf, chaired on Tuesday in Algiers a broad – based meeting with managers and representatives of the various private medical clinics scattered in the four corners of the country aimed at bringing to the fore the lingering drawbacks and lapses witnessed by the relevant health authorities in the private health sector in Algeria.

The meeting was also aimed at curbing the nagging hostile relationship generated by some venal people between the private and public health sectors with an accusing finger being pointed by the health Minister at many private medical clinics which literally “steal” patients from public hospitals in collusion between certain heads of medical departments and administrators, as he put it.

This get – together, aimed mostly at clearing the air and straightening out this deleterious situation brought about by numerous money –hungry private clinics, was the first of the kind to examine a number of outstanding files linked to the latter’s required integration and closer coordination with the public health sector. 

The health Minister, Abdelmalek Boudiaf,  emphasized during the meeting that the 400 targeted private clinics should avert pragmatism in dealing with the helpless patients who are regarded mostly as sources of profit and massive revenues adding that health was primarily a purely humanitarian action.

To this effect, the Minister announced the enforcement of new legal measures and working procedures in addition to a follow-up program to be strictly respected from now onwards by all the private clinics in the country as part of an ongoing drive designed to enhance the brand-image of the national health sector with an upgraded taking in charge of all patients.