CHIFA / CNAS reimbursement: how does it work?
Updated 2026-06-25 · Reviewed by Comité médical Doctavie
The CHIFA card lets CNAS members get care and medicines reimbursed in Algeria. Learn how the third-party-payment system works, what is covered and how to get reimbursed.
The CHIFA card is the electronic health-insurance card for members of CNAS in Algeria. It enables third-party payment: at the pharmacy you pay nothing (or only part) for reimbursable medicines, as CNAS pays the pharmacist directly. It also covers reimbursement of consultations and care.
What does CNAS reimburse?
- Reimbursable medicines at a reference tariff
- Medical consultations (GP and specialist)
- Lab tests and some examinations
- Care and hospitalisation under agreement
- Chronic illnesses, covered 100% under conditions
CNAS or CASNOS — which one am I in?
CNAS covers salaried workers and pensioners; CASNOS covers the self-employed (traders, liberal professions, farmers). Both provide health cover.
Find a health professional
Rates and reference tariffs change: confirm exact conditions with CNAS or your pharmacist. General guidance, last checked June 2026; reviewed by the Doctavie medical committee.
FAQ
Does CHIFA cover all medicines?
No. Only reimbursable medicines are covered, at a reference tariff. Some medicines are not reimbursed or only partly.
Can I use CHIFA for my dependents?
Yes. The card covers the insured and declared dependents (spouse, dependent children), each identified on the card chip.
How do I renew a CHIFA card?
Contact your CNAS agency with the required documents. Rights can also be updated at the dedicated kiosks.