WHEN THE PANDEMIC DEFIES HOSPITAL REFORMS: THE ALGERIAN HEALTH SYSTEM AT THE CROSSROADS

No one can deny the fact that the current health crisis affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was unexpected and made it possible to identify dysfunctions in the health systems of the most developed countries. Its impacts have been even more striking for growing states like Algeria. In order to be adapted to new realities relating to the determinants of health, to demographic, epidemiological and technological changes, as well as to the various changes imposed by globalization; this present work is an attempt to highlight the evolution and content of health reforms in Algeria which have entered into force or which are in the process of being completed. At the same time, we wondered about the causes of the persistent discontent of citizens, health professionals as well as those of patients' associations. In an attempt to temper and provide remedy to this situation, we investigated the causes of frustration and dissatisfaction. Despite the successive reforms and the colossal resources allocated, the results obtained on the ground remain - contrary to the conclusions - minimal and worrying, compared to the qualities of the services of other similar States under the same conditions. In order to address the already mentioned inconveniences mentioned above, we have relied on a historical approach supported by the descriptive and analytical method to describe and analyse the data represented on one hand, and to assess their strategic significance in accordance with the thoughts of this study, on the other hand. This present research is set out to test the hypothesis according to which the search for performance and improvement of health services (PAP) is not a necessarily attributable to the perpetual increase in expenditure or to the multiplication of reforms. However, it is mostly related to developing a coherent system, good governance, and patriotic responsibilities. The survey results reveal that the cross-cutting causes of the current health crisis and the undesirable symptoms in health facilities are not cured by government remedies alone but rather by the contribution of all segments of society, the right people practices, and good governance. However, the concept of good governance in the hospital setting is not well considered in this study and offers attractive research opportunities.