Jordan, Algeria talk means to boost cooperation in health field

AMMAN — Jordan and Algeria on Monday held talks focused on enhancing cooperation in multiple fields to follow up on the outcomes of His Majesty King Abdullah's recent visit to Algiers.

The meeting was chaired by Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply and Minister of Labour Yousef Shamali and Algerian Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security Youcef Chorfa, and attended by Minister of Health Feras Al Hawari, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Both sides discussed means of advancing cooperation in the health industry, notably treatment of Algerian patients in Jordan in the specialities of pediatric and ophthalmic surgery, as well as enhancing partnerships in the fields of social security, social insurance and vocational training.  

Shamali said that these discussions are meant to follow up on the outcomes of His Majesty's visit to Algeria earlier this month, during which talks were held with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and senior officials over scaling up efforts to enhance cooperation between both countries in various fields through availing the available opportunities and exchanging expertise.

The trade minister drew attention to the importance of the Jordanian investments in the pharmaceutical sector in Algeria.

“The door is open for further partnerships in several fields”, he said, noting that several meetings and visits will take place to discuss cooperation in the fields of industry and agriculture, among others.

Chorfa said his country’s interest in sending Algerians for treatment in Jordan stems from the “deep-rooted” Jordanian-Algerian ties and the advanced level of Jordanian health sector.

Stressing the need to expand cooperation in the health field, he said that Jordanian and Algerian cooperation should not be restricted to the treatment of Algerian patients in Jordan, but should extend to expertise exchange, technology transfer, training, empowerment, establishing investments and integration in this vital sector.

Hawari expressed the Kingdom's readiness to support Algerian patients in Jordan and provide healthcare services, and enhance cooperation in expertise exchange and technology transfer, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Talks also went over the advancements of the Jordanian healthcare industry, and improvements attained by the Royal Medical Services, mainly the e-health programme "Hakeem", which has helped in easing procedures related to providing a unified database on medicines among others, and achieving savings by  25 to 30 per cent. 

Head of the Jordan Association of Private Hospitals, Fawzi Hammouri, emphasised the health sector's readiness to provide healthcare services and necessary treatments for Algerians. 

The agenda of the two-day visit of the guest delegation includes an expanded meeting with the Jordan Association of Private Hospitals, a visit to a number of medical facilities, learning about the "Hakeem" programme.

Talks will also be held at the Ministry of Labour on Tuesday to discuss cooperation in the field of social security and vocational training.