“Bodyguards” to ensure safety of doctors in hospitals

Minister of health, population and hospital reform, Abdelmalek Boudiaf, has enjoined the health managers across the 48 provinces of the country to deal with the private clinics scattered over their territory similarly to public hospital establishments with daily health provisions being strictly monitored periodically so as to provide the best overall service and not only banking on the official endorsement to practice medicine.

Mr Boudiaf’s stern statement came in the light of myriad abuses and gross lapses that have taken place of late in several private clinics as a result of lack of supervision and control.

Speaking on Sunday during a working visit of inspection to Boumerdes province, 50 km east of Algiers, Mr Boudiaf announced to this effect the enforcement shortly of close-up version of a new health law containing 400 clauses meant to upgrade patients’ care service in these private health facilities.

The delay recorded by Boumerdes’ health care system “will be caught up within a period of one year and a half”, Abdelmalek Boudiaf also pledged.

During his inspection visit, Mr Boudiaf also inaugurated the Department of Pediatrics of the Bordj Menaïel hospital equipped with modern medical equipment and which employs senior health specialists. In the nearby ISSER municipality, he proceeded to the commissioning of an intermediate Center for drug addicts’ rehabilitation.

Reacting to reported acts of aggression committed by certain ill-advised people against some practicing doctors in different hospitals, the health minister indicated that binding contracts would be initialed with security companies in the near future so as to ensure the security and protection of the doctors on duty.