Algeria to Launch Corneal Transplant Program from Deceased Donors

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Professor Rachid Belhadj unveils a comprehensive scientific and legal initiative to restore sight through corneal grafts, urging national solidarity for medical advancement.

Algiers, Algeria | May 15th, 2025 — In a bold step forward for Algeria’s healthcare system, Professor Rachid Belhadj, Director of Medical and Paramedical Activities and Head of the Forensic Medicine Department at Mustapha Pacha University Hospital, announced the upcoming launch of a national corneal transplant program using grafts from deceased donors.

Speaking as a guest on the national radio program “Guest of the Morning” broadcast on Channel Two, Professor Belhadj—who also serves as a member of the National Observatory for Civil Society—disclosed that this ambitious medical, technical, and legal initiative aims to restore vision for individuals who have lost their sight through the transplantation of corneas harvested ethically from deceased persons.

“This is a strategic national program that relies heavily on the trust and engagement of citizens, civil society organizations, religious leaders, and academic institutions,” Professor Belhadj emphasized. He described the project as a landmark medical development that requires collective support to succeed, particularly in a domain that touches both scientific innovation and profound ethical considerations.

The initiative is part of a broader governmental strategy to improve and modernize existing national health programs through coordinated interdisciplinary efforts. It reflects Algeria’s determination to close the gap between its healthcare system and international standards.

In addition to the transplant project, Professor Belhadj highlighted Algeria’s broader efforts to reinvigorate its academic and medical institutions. He praised the government’s new policy of international academic outreach, including the launch of a digital platform allowing foreign students to enroll and pursue studies in Algerian universities. This move aims to restore Algeria’s historic role as a center of learning and scientific excellence.

Moreover, Professor Belhadj welcomed the recent executive decree establishing a new University of Health Sciences, describing it as a “major breakthrough” that will profoundly enhance scientific research and healthcare training, and respond more effectively to the evolving needs of Algeria’s public health sector.

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