International congress on medical tourism: Algeria's potential highlighted

Organized by Jektis Évents in partnership with the online magazine 37 Degrés, specialising in medical news, and Infinity Software, a digital marketing company, under the patronage of the Ministries of Health and Tourism, this congress aims to make Algeria a destination for medical tourism.  To this end, the public authorities are working hard to bring together all the necessary resources for this sector.

So, to move from an importer to an exporter of healthcare, it is necessary to “highlight Algeria's potential in terms of medical tourism, and slow down the flow of patients seeking treatment abroad”.

To achieve this, it is essential to increase the number of world-class private hospitals and clinics offering highly qualified care at attractive prices, if Algeria is to catch up in this field.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange experiences with participants from various countries.

Algeria's thermal potential was also highlighted. To this end, Mohamed Karim Chikhi, Director of Thermal Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts, pointed out that “Algeria has 280 thermal resorts according to the 2015 census. These natural assets available to Algeria constitute an incentive for investors in the field. There are also 1,600 facilities with a capacity of 151,000 beds”.

The same official stressed the growing importance of seawater-based treatments. There are three centers, one in Sidi Fredj and two in Oran.

“We have high-performance structures and highly qualified skills”.

Abdelaziz Ayadi, Vice-President of the National Medical Association and Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the First International Congress on Health and Medical Tourism, declares: “We have high-performance structures and highly qualified skills”.

This first congress responds to questions such as “Can Algeria be a destination for medical tourism? Why not? Well, because Algeria today is not the Algeria of yesterday. “Before 1988, there were no clinics; in 2024, however, there are 300 private clinics. Pathologies requiring technical mastery are now treated in Algeria, such as open-heart pathologies, total hip and knee prostheses, kidney transplants and many other pathologies”, explains the same manager.

He adds: “The aim of this congress is also to launch a South-South dialogue with our African friends, in particular those from Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso, so that they can follow in the footsteps of other countries and seek treatment here in Algeria. We believe we have the means to carry out this mission. In medical terms,” he explains, “we have high-performance structures, and in human terms, we have highly qualified skills.

Also, according to him, the environment exists to enable patients from these countries to receive medical care in Algeria. “Transport is available, with two Algerian airlines. There are also banks, including two in Mauritania and one in Senegal. The hotel industry exists and is recent. All these factors make Algeria a destination for medical tourism,” he says.

On another front, the professor highlights the numerous thermal resorts in Algeria, such as Guelma, Bouhnifia and Sidi Fredj in Algiers. “We need to develop these spas so that elderly people can be treated there,” he points out.

Meanwhile, Dr. Islem Ouanes, Professor at the University of Mounastir and representative of the El Yosr international private multidisciplinary clinic in Sousse, Tunisia, says he is taking part in “this congress on health and medical tourism to improve partnership relations between Tunisia and Algeria and exchange experiences”. “In Tunisia, medical tourism is very widespread. We're here to promote it,” he explains.

Over the last four years, 60 new healthcare facilities have been opened. Our country currently has 300 private hospitals and 320 radiology centers, as Professor Lyes Rahal, Director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, pointed out yesterday.

On another note, Algeria's potential for thermal and wellness tourism was highlighted. “Algeria has 280 spa resorts according to the 2015 census. Algeria's natural assets are an attraction for investors in this field. There are also 1,600 facilities with a capacity of 151,000 beds”, according to Mohamed Karim Chikh, Director of Thermal Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts.

A rich and varied program

The organizers have put together a rich and varied program for participants, visitors, and exhibitors. In all, six main themes related to health and medical tourism were addressed by top-quality speakers.

Thus, on the second day of the congress, the themes outlined were “Thermalism and hydrotherapy: strategic pillars for advancing health and geriatric tourism”.

The digital revolution in medical tourism, “telemedicine and artificial intelligence to boost medical tourism”, and “the digitalization of healthcare and medical tourism” were also discussed.