On November 3, 2026, Algerian Health Minister Professor Mohamed Seddik Ait Masoudan oversaw the official launch of the National Medical Equipment Reference Guide at the Ministry's headquarters. This strategic move aims to modernize the management of medical equipment, unify acquisition standards, determine needs, and rationalize public spending to improve the quality of health services and enhance patient care.
The guide, a national first in the healthcare reform process, is the result of scientific and technical work led by the General Directorate of Pharmacy and Medical Equipment, involving experts, specialists, and biomedical engineers. It covers 38 medical specialties and eight transversal technical poles, including 716 types of medical equipment and 1,403 uses, specifying the required equipment for each specialty and level of healthcare.
The launch of this guide is complemented by Ministerial Decision No. 11, dated June 28, 2026, regulating the organization and functioning of the National Device for the Management, Monitoring, and Evaluation of Medical Equipment. This decision provides a regulatory framework to enhance governance and coordination between healthcare institutions, health departments, and the National Committee.
Minister Ait Masoudan emphasized the need to adopt objective criteria for replacing medical equipment, focusing on patient safety, equipment lifespan, operational readiness, maintenance costs, and activity volume. This approach ensures the continuity of health services and protects public funds. He also announced a new instruction to estimate medical equipment needs based on the national guide.
The guide will serve as a unified basis for preparing, studying, and ranking acquisition requests according to the actual needs of healthcare institutions and regional specificities. Minister Ait Masoudan called on healthcare institutions to commit to updating their data and accurately and transparently determining their needs to reflect this project on the quality of health services.
The Minister assured that the national guide will be continuously updated and developed in collaboration with experts and professionals. He invited healthcare institutions to adhere to the new system, which aims to improve patient care and the overall quality of health services in Algeria.
The event was also attended by the President of the Health and Social Affairs Committee, who praised the initiative. The launch of the national guide marks a significant step towards enhancing Algeria's healthcare system, ensuring better resource allocation, and improving healthcare outcomes for patients.
Key points
- The National Medical Equipment Reference Guide covers 38 medical specialties and includes 716 types of medical equipment.
- The guide aims to rationalize public spending and improve the quality of health services.
- The Algerian government has introduced new regulations to enhance governance and coordination in the healthcare sector.
