Health & Education

Access to health care is expected to improve as the government embarks on an ambitious programme of investment in health facilities. Between 2010 and 2014, the authorities plan to invest AD619bn (€5.69bn) to enhance the sector, with plans to renovate 320 health facilities and build 172 hospitals, 45 specialised centres, 377 polyclinics and 17 paramedical schools. In 2010 the government launched a five-year plan that would see AD852bn (€7.84bn) invested in the education sector. Reforms to expand the number of vocational training courses on offer to students at the secondary level are helping to alleviate the high youth unemployment rate. This chapter contains interviews with Tarek Rabah, Middle East and Africa Vice-President, AstraZeneca; and Abdelatif Baba Ahmed, Minister of Education.