The Ministry of Health is preparing a special law project aimed at regulating medical emergencies prior to hospital admission.
During a question-and-answer session at the House of Councillors, Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amin Tahraoui, announced that the project intends to enhance coordination among various stakeholders and ensure an effective response to emergency medical situations.
The minister explained that this initiative will strengthen coordination between civil defense, local authorities, and emergency call centers, with the goal of improving medical assistance services before patients reach healthcare institutions. He emphasized that the ministry is working to enhance the performance of emergency medical assistance services through improvements related to the toll-free number 141, ensuring immediate and effective responses to citizens’ calls.
The minister noted that medical emergencies are a priority within the strategy to reform the national health system, considering their crucial role in the rapid management of emergency cases. He highlighted that the ministry is placing special emphasis on boosting emergency services in regional hospitals, given their essential role in the regional healthcare offering.
He reported that the public sector currently has 155 emergency reception services distributed according to their reference levels, including 100 basic services in local and regional hospitals, 24 full services in regional and university hospitals, and 31 specialized services. He confirmed that all regional hospitals are equipped with emergency services capable of handling critical cases.
The minister revealed that public reception services recorded over 6 million emergency consultations in 2024, a figure reflecting immense pressure on these facilities, which has necessitated the enhancement of emergency services by establishing 110 proximity medical emergency units, alongside supporting medical assistance services for immediate response.
He pointed out that challenges facing some regional emergency services mainly include shortages in medical and nursing personnel and the pressure stemming from the rising number of consultations, in addition to the need to modernize biomedical equipment and expand reception facilities.
He confirmed that the ministry has begun implementing support programs aimed at upgrading these services according to a national reference guide, which includes creating triage rooms and improving reception services, as well as equipping new proximity medical emergency units, contributing to alleviating pressure on regional hospitals and enhancing the efficiency of emergency case management.
