The Algerian Ministry of Health has issued a new directive aimed at regulating the transfer of patients between health institutions. The directive, dated October 27, 2026, and signed by Minister of Health Mohamed Sidiqi Ait Messaoudan, outlines the conditions under which patients can be transferred and the responsibilities of health institutions in the process. The new rules are designed to ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate care.
According to the directive, health institutions must study transfer requests that fall within their competence and respond with a justified answer within the shortest possible timeframe. Institutions must also ensure that they have the necessary medical justification for the transfer and obtain prior approval from the receiving institution. The directive emphasizes the importance of coordinating patient transfers to ensure that patients receive the necessary care.
The Ministry has also stressed that the unavailability of beds in a particular department cannot be a reason for refusing to care for a patient without conducting a prior study of the institution's overall reception capacity. This means that institutions must consider their overall capacity, rather than just the availability of beds in a specific department, when deciding whether to accept a transferred patient.
The directive also assigns responsibility to directors of health and population for coordinating the reception of patients between institutions. They are required to organize regular meetings to facilitate the reception of transferred patients and ensure that patients are directed to institutions with the necessary resources. This is expected to improve the coordination of patient transfers and ensure that patients receive the necessary care.
The Ministry has also highlighted the role of university hospital services in caring for complex cases from various provinces. These services are expected to contribute to the coordination of patient transfers and provide care for patients who require specialized medical and technical resources. The directive emphasizes the importance of collaboration between health institutions to ensure that patients receive the necessary care.
To facilitate the transfer process, each health institution is required to designate a permanent contact person to coordinate and exchange information related to patient transfers. This is expected to improve communication between institutions and ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate care.
The new directive replaces previous instructions and is expected to improve the coordination of patient transfers and ensure that patients receive the necessary care. The Ministry has emphasized the importance of strict adherence to the directive, which is expected to come into effect immediately.
Key points
- The Algerian Ministry of Health has introduced new rules for transferring patients between health institutions.
- Health institutions must study transfer requests and respond with a justified answer within the shortest possible timeframe.
- The directive assigns responsibility to directors of health and population for coordinating the reception of patients between institutions.
