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The Minister of Health, Mohamed Seddik Aït Messaoudène, announced, Thursday in Algiers, the opening of 24,487 new budget positions under the 2026 finance bill (PLF), of which 2,600 will be intended for specialist doctors.
Presenting the sectoral budget of the Ministry of Health before the finance and budget committee of the National People’s Assembly (APN), Mr. Aït Messaoudène indicated that the total number of positions open in 2026 represents “an increase of 5,397 budget positions compared to 2025”.
Of the 24,487 positions planned, 2,600 will be allocated to specialist doctors, 2,000 to general practitioners, 14,860 to the paramedical corps, 3,000 to contract agents, 90 to specialized administrative staff and 1,937 to public health midwives.
The minister also indicated that the health sector will benefit from more than 1,048 billion dinars in payment credits and 1,038 billion dinars in commitment authorizations. He specified that “this budget was distributed according to clearly defined strategic objectives, focused on prevention, care, training and public administration”.
As part of the PLF 2026, the expenditure of the Cancer Fund will be revised upwards, thanks to the modification of article 79 of law 10-13 relating to the 2011 finance law. This revision will make it possible to increase the subsidies intended for health establishments under supervision.
The minister affirmed that “the credits available in this Fund will exceed 93 billion dinars for the year 2026”. An envelope which will support specialized structures and strengthen the availability of oncological treatments.
The tobacco tax to finance care
Still in the spirit of sustainable financing of public health, the 2026 finance bill provides for an upward revision of the additional tax on tobacco products, which will increase from 65 to 75 DA.
The revenue generated by this measure will be distributed between the Fund for emergencies and medical care activities, whose share will increase from 14 to 19 DA, and the Fund to fight cancer, which will now benefit from 26 DA instead of 21.
This provision is part of a preventive health approach aimed at reducing the risks associated with smoking, while financially supporting care and research programs.
At the end of the minister’s presentation, the members of the commission raised several concerns related to the functioning of the sector. They particularly pleaded for effective use of the reports of the information missions of the health committee and the implementation of the recommendations resulting from the parliamentary days and the seminars organized by the APN.
Among the main difficulties mentioned are the lack of medical equipment in several health structures, recurring breakdowns of diagnostic devices, such as scanners, and excessively long delays for radiotherapy sessions. Parliamentarians recommended strengthening ambulance provision to improve medical transport and ensure better patient care, particularly in remote areas.
To improve the overall performance of the system, MEPs made several proposals. They suggested the creation of a special fund for the management of chronic diseases and medical emergencies, the equipment of new multi-purpose treatment rooms, as well as the construction of hospitals in wilayas which lack them. They also called for the registration of new 60-bed hospitals, the creation of positions for medical assistants trained in private schools and the establishment of a unified digital system to ensure better monitoring of health data.
The proposals also focused on granting housing advantages and financial bonuses to specialist doctors, while guaranteeing their continuing training. Elected officials stressed the importance of strengthening control of private clinics, updating the health map, as well as increasing training capacities for nurses, midwives, anesthesia and radiology technicians.
Among the urgent priorities put forward are the creation of mother-child hospitals in certain wilayas, the opening of new cancer centers, as well as the generalization of needle-free glucose measurement devices for diabetics. These initiatives, inspired by international best practices, have the main objectives of improving the quality of life of patients and adapting the national health system to global technological advances.
It should be noted that at the opening of the work, the president of the commission, Mohamed Benhachem, affirmed that health remains “a major priority for citizens”, facing the challenges linked to the quality of services, health coverage and the deficit in human and material resources. Mr. Benhachem also welcomed “the significant portion of the national budget devoted to health”, considering that it clearly illustrates “the political will of the public authorities to consolidate the national health system and guarantee the fundamental right to health, enshrined in the Constitution”.
He also wanted to highlight the complementarity and close cooperation between the legislative and executive powers, which he described as a common commitment in the service of the supreme interest of the country and the well-being of the citizen.