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Algeria’s Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Security, Mr. Faisal Bentaleb, has revealed that social security institutions in the country spent 150 billion dinars in 2025 to cover the cost of medical care for socially insured persons and their dependents. The disclosure was made while the Minister was responding to questions raised by members of parliament on the state of social security and medical compensation in the country.
Speaking before lawmakers, Mr. Bentaleb clarified that emergency medical cases carried out in private clinics are not automatically covered by agreements between social security funds and private health institutions. Instead, compensation for such cases is only made according to the laws in force. This clarification came in response to a question from Member of Parliament Arvis Marwan, who had raised concerns over insured citizens being denied compensation for emergency treatment in private facilities.
The Minister explained that under the current legal framework, the agreements between the social security funds and private health authorities specifically exclude emergency medical and surgical cases. He cited Article 3 of the Model Agreement included in Executive Decree No. 307.14 of December 15, 2014, which lists the types of medical work covered, with the exception of emergencies. He also pointed to Article 18 of the same agreement, which makes clear that lump sums are not due to private hospitals unless prior approval and a commitment to cover costs have been obtained from the social security fund.
Mr. Bentaleb stressed that in cases where prior medical approval is not obtained, the costs of treatment are reimbursed under existing laws. This means they are calculated based on the prices established in the joint ministerial decision of July 4, 1987, which sets the monetary value of professional services by doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and medical assistants. Reimbursements are also based on the ministerial decision of October 22, 1980, which specifies the cost of hospitalization, catering, and hotel services in private clinics, and the portion that is compensated by social security. For patients, this reimbursement is processed after the submission of the final invoice to the National Social Insurance Fund’s payment center for affiliated workers.
While acknowledging the legal restrictions, the Minister highlighted that social security institutions continue to make massive contributions toward healthcare, particularly in public hospitals. He disclosed that by 2025, the funds had contributed a total of 150 billion dinars to cover hospital “lump sums” for insured individuals and their families. According to him, this reflects the state’s commitment to strengthening the national health system and ensuring that insured persons can access essential medical services without facing crippling financial burdens.
In a separate response to Member of Parliament Taher Ben Ali, the Minister addressed the issue of social security coverage for families benefiting from inheritance grants for disabled persons. He noted that social security institutions recognize disabled persons as a special category of insured individuals under the legislation. These individuals, he said, are identified through provincial social activity departments and provided with health and maternity insurance coverage.
Mr. Bentaleb explained that disabled persons who are not engaged in any form of professional activity are entitled to in-kind health benefits, with health insurance coverage set at 80 percent. These benefits also extend to the widely used Chifa card, which allows beneficiaries to access medication at pharmacies without having to prepay.
The Minister further pointed out that for certain chronic illnesses or long-term conditions classified under Article 4 of Decree No. 84-27 of February 11, 1984, the coverage rate may be increased to 100 percent. This provision ensures that patients suffering from serious medical conditions receive full support for their treatment, in line with the broader objectives of Law No. 11-83 of July 2, 1985, on social insurance.
Observers say the Minister’s clarification highlights the balance the Algerian government is trying to maintain between strict adherence to existing laws and the need to provide social protection for its citizens. While the exclusion of emergency cases in private clinics from direct agreements may cause frustration for some insured citizens, the government maintains that the law provides avenues for reimbursement, even if the process is more complex.
With a growing population and rising healthcare demands, Algeria’s social security system continues to play a vital role in protecting citizens from high medical costs. The 150 billion dinars allocated in 2025 underscores the scale of this commitment, while also pointing to the financial challenges faced by the system in sustaining comprehensive coverage for millions of beneficiaries.
