La formule d’Aït Messaoudène – Le Jeune Indépendant

The Minister of Health, Mohamed Seddik Aït Messaoudène.

Determined to continue the modernization of the health system to improve patient care, the Minister of Health, Mohamed Seddik Aït Messaoudène chaired, this Wednesday, a coordination meeting with central administration executives, devoted to monitoring priority files in the sector.

Aït Messaoudène affirmed that “the priority of the sector is to work tirelessly to guarantee quality care to every citizen, throughout the national territory”, and this from the opening of this meeting, which made it possible to outline the main orientations of the ministry in order to strengthen the availability of medicines, accelerate digitalization, enhance human resources and guarantee access to care throughout the national territory. This was stated in a press release from the ministry.

The minister specified that the success of this mission depends on rigorous coordination between the different departments of the ministry and continued mobilization around the priorities of the sector.

The first head of the sector immediately gave firm instructions to permanently ensure the availability of medicines and medical devices, which he described as a “strategic priority of the national health policy”. With this in mind, he called for concerted work between the different stakeholders in order to avoid any stock shortages and ensure continuity of patient treatment.

Aït Messaoudène also highlighted the central role of digitalization in inventory management. He called for the establishment of a digital supply tracking system, supported by precise statistics, to allow rapid reaction to any tension. He assured that the digitalization of pharmaceutical management constitutes an irreversible strategic choice, guaranteeing transparency and efficiency in the governance of the sector.

In addition, the minister demanded the establishment of a culture of preventive work in terms of maintenance of medical equipment. He thus noted the importance of the permanent availability of vital devices and the establishment of a rapid intervention system in the event of a breakdown. For Mr. Aït Messaoudène, “the prevention of technical failures is as essential as the care itself”, giving firm instructions for the constitution of stocks of spare parts and the strengthening of technical surveillance within hospital establishments.

Doctors in remote areas

Regarding human resources, the minister placed emphasis on the equitable distribution of medical and paramedical personnel, particularly for the benefit of the wilayas of the South and the Hauts Plateaux. He announced incentive measures intended to encourage doctors to settle there, through housing facilities and improved working conditions.

He also called for the development of specialized training adapted to the needs of these regions, integrating new disciplines into the training of general practitioners. He affirmed that “territorial equity in health is a commitment that we must make real on the ground”.

In addition, he highlighted the need to strengthen twinning between hospital establishments across the national territory. He explained that this approach aims to enable the exchange of experiences, the pooling of skills and the dissemination of good medical practices, in order to raise the level of care in all regions of the country.

Furthermore, the minister addressed the issue of supervision of the private paramedical training sector, ensuring the progressive and controlled integration of graduates into the public and private sectors. Stressing the importance of aligning the programs of private schools with the national training strategy, while guaranteeing strict quality control, he maintained that this approach will make it possible to strengthen the health system with well-trained skills better adapted to the realities on the ground.

Among the immediate priorities mentioned, the minister reaffirmed the department’s desire to generalize the patient’s electronic medical record nationally. He explained that this tool constitutes a fundamental pillar to improve the coordination of care, strengthen medical traceability and offer patients smoother and safer monitoring.

Aït Messaoudène also noted the importance of consolidating cooperation between the different sectors concerned with public health. He discussed an intersectoral approach that integrates the dimensions of housing, education, equipment and local development in order to build a global and sustainable health policy.

In addition, the minister urged the executives of his department to implement on the ground the orientations set during this meeting. He recalled that the citizen and the patient remain at the heart of the ministry’s priorities and that all the reforms undertaken have the mission of offering accessible, quality and equitable care across the entire territory, thus reaffirming its determination to make the health sector an essential pillar of the well-being of all citizens.