The Algerian Ministry of Health has established new guidelines for the transfer of patients between healthcare facilities across different wilayas. This move aims to address the issue of patients being denied care due to the unavailability of beds in specific services. According to Minister of Health Mohamed Seddik Aït Messaoudane, the transfer of patients is a medically justified procedure that can be life-saving. The new rules require healthcare facilities to examine transfer requests within their competence and respond promptly.
The Ministry's note, dated October 27, 2026, emphasizes that the unavailability of beds in a particular service cannot be a sole reason for denying care to a transferred patient. Healthcare facilities must assess their overall capacity to accommodate patients before rejecting transfer requests. The Ministry also requires the requesting facility to verify the medical justification for the transfer and obtain prior approval from the receiving facility. Additionally, the requesting facility must ensure the patient is prepared for transfer and that their transportation is medically secured.
The new guidelines also assign responsibility to the directors of health and population to coordinate operations between different healthcare facilities. They are expected to organize periodic meetings to facilitate the reception of transferred patients at facilities with the necessary resources. This coordination will extend to facilities in other wilayas to ensure better orientation of patients to facilities that can meet their medical needs.
The Ministry highlights the role of hospitalo-university centers (CHU) in providing care for complex cases from various wilayas. These centers, with their multidisciplinary human resources, expertise, and technical platforms, are expected to contribute to the care of complex cases within their missions and available resources. Each healthcare facility will designate a permanent person responsible for facilitating coordination and information exchange related to patient transfers and hospitalizations.
The Ministry's note also specifies that the modalities of application of these measures can be defined by the services of the General Directorate of Health Services and Hospital Reform, as well as the Directorate of Information Systems and Informatics. The Minister of Health has called on all concerned officials to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of this note.
These new orientations are part of Instruction No. 07 of September 3, 2006, which canceled and replaced Instruction No. 3 of April 18, 1998, related to patient transfer conditions. They are also based on Instruction No. 01 of January 10, 2020, concerning the transfer of patients between healthcare facilities, and Note No. 03 of September 14, 2025, related to patient transfers.
The new rules aim to ensure the safety and quality of care for patients transferred between healthcare facilities. By streamlining the transfer process and promoting coordination between facilities, the Ministry of Health seeks to improve healthcare outcomes for patients requiring specialized care.
Key points
- Algeria's Ministry of Health introduces new rules for patient transfers between healthcare facilities.
- The new guidelines aim to address the issue of patients being denied care due to bed unavailability.
- Hospitalo-university centers are expected to contribute to the care of complex cases from various wilayas.
