Doctor deaths spark protests and calls for reform
Dr Aymen Badis, a resident neurosurgeon at Frantz Fanon Hospital in Blida, passed away suddenly due to a heart attack following an intense 24-hour shift in the hospital. Shortly after, a resident anaesthesiologist lost her life at the Mohamed Lamine Debaghine University Hospital, located in the Bab El Oued area of Algiers. Friends and colleagues shared details of these tragic incidents on social media, suggesting that exhaustion and poor working conditions contributed to these deaths.
The National Union of General Public Health Practitioners responded with two official statements condemning the loss of these young doctors. The union described Dr Badis's death following an 'exhausting shift' as a pressing issue that demands 'a serious and immediate response.' It emphasized that ignoring the growing loss of life among medical professionals is no longer a viable option.
A long-standing dispute over working conditions
These two tragic cases are not isolated. Over the years, multiple similar incidents have prompted public outrage and a renewed push for reform. The current debate is part of a broader, ongoing conflict between the medical profession and the government, which began with a major strike in 2018. That year, approximately 13,000 resident doctors took part in a widespread walkout over unfair pay, excessive working hours, and the civil service rule requiring specialists to serve in poorly equipped rural locations.
According to reports and testimonials from unions, resident doctors in many hospitals often work up to 10 on-call shifts a month, but they are only compensated for six of them. Many argue that their salaries are far too low for the amount of work and the years of training required for such a demanding profession. On top of inadequate pay, night shift allowances are minimal, critical medical equipment frequently breaks down and takes far too long to repair, and emergency departments are often overcrowded and understaffed.
The government has shown little willingness to address these issues, with an aggressive response to protests. In January 2025, health activist Charaf Eddine Talhaoui was arrested for his role in a protest that had started in November 2024. He faced trial in a Tlemcen court and was found guilty on charges of 'spreading fake news,' 'undermining public order,' and 'undermining national interest.' As a result, he received an 18-month prison sentence. However, the sentence was reduced on appeal in March 2025 to a year, including a nine-month suspended term. Talhaoui was eventually released in May 2025.
Challenges in rural and urban health care
Medical professionals are pushing for a major overhaul of an executive decree from 2013, which outlines the rules for on-call duty. They are also calling for better pay and improved working conditions.
Adding to the crisis are the geographical imbalances in health care access. The majority of major hospitals and specialist facilities are located in urban areas, leaving inland provinces with severe shortages. These regions often lack both trained specialist doctors and necessary equipment. Diagnostic machines, like MRI and X-ray units, frequently break down and take months to fix due to slow-moving administrative processes for acquiring spare parts or upgrading to newer models.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has publicly stated that Algeria has the best health system in Africa. The figures show that Algeria has 17 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants, which is relatively high compared to other African countries with large populations, such as South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco. Still, countries like Mauritius and Seychelles outperform Algeria with 27 and 22 doctors per 10,000, respectively. Moreover, the overall African average is significantly lower at just 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people. The data highlights the urgent need for better investment in the country's health care system.