Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amin Tehrawi, clarified that discussions surrounding the suspension of support for private investments in the healthcare sector do not indicate state opposition to this sector. Rather, the aim is to reassess public incentive mechanisms and regulate them according to current requirements.
During a special meeting on Channel Two, Tehrawi explained that he temporarily requested the halt of funding for several private investment projects presented to the National Investment Commission. This measure is intended to review the relationship between the state and the private healthcare sector, especially following the significant increase in demand for healthcare services due to the expansion of social coverage.
The minister pointed out that supporting investment projects falls within the purview of the Investment Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, and noted that during committee meetings, six to seven requests concerning the healthcare sector were found. He requested their temporary suspension to evaluate the priority of these projects and their impact on the balance between the public and private sectors.
Tehrawi stated that the issue isn’t the principle of supporting the private sector, but rather directing this support to areas that genuinely need healthcare services. This would prevent investments from being concentrated in major cities or near public hospitals, which could create unfair competition and lead to a drain of medical professionals from public facilities.
He added that private clinics have effectively benefited from the increased demand following the implementation of health coverage, with millions of citizens accessing their health services through the “AMO Tadamoun” system, making the need for direct financial support less urgent.
Tehrawi concluded that support should be conditional and functional, aimed at achieving spatial justice and ensuring the sustainability of the national health system, rather than reinforcing the concentration of the private sector in lucrative areas at the expense of public services.
