Cooperation: France’s health at the bedside of Algeria!

The unexpected postponement of the signing of 13 agreements between Algeria and France in the field of health has touched off the ire of French companies operating in this vital sector of activity.

As a matter of fact, this last-minute delay is due to the absence of French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, which has spawned the resentment on the part of these French companies, as Mr Valls was initially due to initial the relevant agreement today Thursday with his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmalek Sellal, at the close of the 1st Algerian-French encounters on health in Algiers.

The meeting between the Algerian and French Premiers has been finally postponed until next February.

These bilateral agreements, including several profit-yielding contracts which cost millions of Euros concern the import of French-manufactured drugs and medical equipment, particularly meant for the treatment of the cancer disease in Algeria.

The health, population and hospital reform minister, Mr Abdelmalek Boudiaf, said Algeria is striving to “save” its public health facilities through French expertise in the areas of drug safety, hospital management, and the treatment of incurable diseases, while regretting the failure of the official signing of these important bilateral agreements in due time.

The relevant accords are also expected to cover bilateral cooperation in drug control, in the development of the donation and transplantation of organs, the twinning of hospitals, health centers’ management as well as  educational exchanges, in addition to the sustained fight against cancer, medical staff training and scientific research…

These agreements will help upgrade the standard of care extended to patients in the Algerian hospitals, through advanced equipment, greater availability of drugs and an efficient and reliable managerial practice in the country’s hospitals and health centers.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of France in Algeria, his Excellency, Mr Bernard Emié, confirmed that the health-related agreements due to be concluded with Algeria will benefit 23 large companies and 11 specialized agencies, adding that during the last three years, 70 companies have contributed to the promotion of this fruitful bilateral cooperation between the two countries.