Elderly Algerians looking back on their life will remember a time when health care was not widely available. Most of the medical facilities were concentrated in the larger cities, and even then, the quality of care could have been higher. Basic medical supplies were in short supply and specialist treatment was out of reach for the vast majority of the population.

But, as time passed, the Algerian health care system improved. The government began investing heavily in healthcare, expanding the network of hospitals and clinics, pouring resources into training, and equipping a medical staff. As a result, the quality of care improved dramatically, and access to medical care became widely available.

Now, Algeria is the African country with the highest life expectancy. The term life expectancy refers to an estimate of the average number of years a person of a given age can expect to live. Whereas Algerian life expectancy was only 47 years in 1962, when the country gained independence, it now stands at around 77 years.

As of 2023, the ten countries with the lowest life expectancy are all in Africa. For example, the life expectancy in Chad and the Central African Republic is 53 years and 55 years respectively. However, much can be improved to ensure people there can live healthier and longer lives. In this context, Algeria’s astronomic rise in life expectancy since independence is an inspiring feat from which other African countries can learn.

In 1962’s Algeria, there was only one physician per 33,000 people and an estimated 300 doctors per 40,000 people. Conscious of the need for change, the government started investing heavily in healthcare to meet the populations needs. A significant milestone was introducing a free national healthcare system in 1975 and establishing healthcare facilities all over the country.

Among other results, the national health care system helped reduce the infant mortality rate from over 10% at the time of independence, to 2% by 2022, significantly impacting life expectancy.

Government investment in healthcare as expressed in the percentage of GDP continued to rise after independence, and in recent years comprised between six and seven percent. The government allocated $28 billion to health over the 2012-2022 decade. Besides the amount of health spending, the high life expectancy in Algeria can also be attributed to effective government policy and budget allocation.

Given Algeria’s relatively young population, government policy has focussed on preventive healthcare. This involves regular screening of the people for diseases, which is facilitated by the national healthcare system. This allows measures to be taken in a timely fashion. As a result, there are relatively few deaths related to diseases such as tuberculosis and AIDS in Algeria, maladies that many African countries have been struggling with historically.

Though African countries can learn from Algeria’s approach to healthcare and its relative success in combating the infectious diseases plaguing so many of them, they should also plan for the new challenges that will emerge if they successfully increase life expectancy. After all, achieving a society where more people reach seniority, creates new problems.

In Algeria, for example, diseases more commonly suffered by the elderly, including diabetes, cancer, and hypertension, constitute a challenge to the health care system. Treatment of these diseases tends to be complex and costly. This, in part, explains the country’s high medical spending. For example, Algeria imports oncology and insulin medicines, which cost more than one billion dollars per year.

Until most of their populations reach seniority, it makes sense for African countries to emulate the trajectory that Algeria took in the decades since its independence. This will involve establishing robust health systems with many facilities and employing thousands of well-trained professionals.

Screening and immunization efforts are proven ways to increase life expectancy and are especially effective in countries with young populations, which are prevalent in Africa. As such, focusing on these measures may help African countries emulate Algeria’s success in rising life expectancy.

In addition, African countries may want to produce medicines locally to set themselves up to care for increasing numbers of elderly. Algeria has taken essential steps towards self-sufficiency in recent years, and now makes approximately 70% of the medicines it uses. However, Algeria currently exports the medications it produces too many Western African countries, including Mali, Senegal, and Ivory Coast.