38% of Algerian population suffers from chronic illnesses

"Thirty eight percent of Algerian people suffer from chronic diseases," Abdel Hamid Boualak, the coordinator of an Algerian society for chronic diseases has said, adding "The number is enormous and terrible - the situation is getting worse in every way and not better because human and material resources are limited." Speaking in an interview with Algerian Radio's Channel 1, he said the society's statistics show that chronic diseases are on a constant rise, adding: "We find a difference between the private and public sectors as there are no programmes or workshops for looking after people who suffer from chronic diseases." Boualak said there were only eight societies active in the field of chronic patient care and that their work has shown clear results. The ministry of health, he said, have taken such programmes in consideration and begun to interact with them. "We see a gap between the ministry and the hospitals. There is no communication. Programmes and follow-ups are not seen on the grounds and patients go through a great deal to get an appointment to be seen by a doctor." Boualak also lauded the work done by NGOs, such as the Amal cancer society in Biskra, which he said performs breast cancer screenings on approximately 80,000 women and follow up with patients to ensure they have food and shelter. Such societies, he said, seek appointments for patients and bring them medication.