The Algerian Ministry of Health has announced new measures to expand access to specialized medical training for general practitioners in the southern and high-plateau regions. The age limit for eligibility has been raised to 50 years, and the required professional experience has been reduced to two years. This move aims to address the shortage of medical professionals in these areas and encourage them to continue working in their regions.
To be eligible, candidates must have at least two years of experience in the regions concerned, be actively working at the time of the competition, and not exceed 50 years of age. These criteria are designed to ensure that the training is accessible to those who need it most. The new measures are part of an effort to improve healthcare services in these regions, where the availability of medical professionals is a significant challenge.
The Ministry of Health has issued a circular to the directors of health and population in the concerned regions, outlining the conditions for accessing the specialized medical training diploma (DEMS) and the rights and obligations of beneficiary doctors. The new arrangements are applicable from 2026 and follow a ministerial instruction that modifies and complements the 2019 regulations on access to this training.
Doctors who are accepted into the training program will retain their salary, benefits, and incentives, which will continue to be paid by their original institutions. They will also receive additional allowances for their work during the training period, paid by the host healthcare institutions. In return, they must commit to working for at least six years in their region after completing their training.
The new measures apply to doctors from 30 regions, including Adrar, Laghouat, Biskra, Béchar, Tamanrasset, Djelfa, Ouargla, Tindouf, El Oued, Ghardaïa, Naâma, Timimoun, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Ouled Djellal, Béni Abbès, In Salah, In Guezzam, Touggourt, Djanet, El Meghaïer, and El Meniaa. These regions are located in the southern and high-plateau areas, where there is a significant shortage of medical professionals.
Doctors who interrupt their training for non-pedagogical reasons or due to professional incapacity will be required to reimburse the costs incurred for their training. Similarly, failure to fulfill the service obligation outlined in their contract will result in the obligation to reimburse the training costs and the amount corresponding to the remaining years of service.
The new arrangements aim to encourage medical professionals to continue working in their regions and improve healthcare services. The Ministry of Health hopes that these measures will help address the shortage of medical professionals in these areas and ensure the continuity of care for local populations.
Key points
- Algeria raises age limit for specialized medical training in southern and high-plateau regions to 50 years
- Doctors must commit to working for at least six years in their region after completing their training
- The new measures apply to 30 regions in the southern and high-plateau areas
