BY: Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In a significant development for Algeria’s pharmaceutical industry, Novo Nordisk Algeria exported a remarkable 2.5 million insulin pens to Saudi Arabia.
The operation was supervised by the Minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production, Ali Aoun, at Novo Nordisk Algeria’s industrial site in Boufarik (Blida province). Also present were Kamel Moula, the President of the Council for Algerian Economic Renewal (CREA); Mrs. Katrine From Hoyer, the Ambassador of Denmark to Algeria; and local authorities.
During the event, Minister Ali Aoun commended Novo Nordisk Algeria for its achievements, noting the difficulty in accessing the medical sector in Saudi Arabia and praising the company for successfully supplying various insulin types to Algerian diabetics, thus averting past drug shortage issues. He highlighted the export’s alignment with the national economic diversification policy and export promotion initiatives advocated by the President of the Republic, aiming to reduce the import bill for medicines. Algeria previously imported insulin pens worth 400 to 420 million euros.
Insulin Shortage in 2024 Successfully Averted
Minister Aoun expressed satisfaction that, for the first time, Algeria did not face insulin shortages during Ramadan in 2024, crediting the efforts of all insulin producers, including Novo Nordisk. He affirmed the quality of insulin produced in Algeria and assured that there were no shortages recorded in 2024 or expected in the future, in line with producers’ commitments.
The minister assured that Algeria currently maintains a sufficient stock of certain insulin types for six months, both with producers and distribution centers. He urged company officials to focus on maintaining quality and explore foreign markets to further reduce the import bill and boost exports.
Ambitious Plans for Algeria’s Pharmaceutical Leadership
Malika Derghal, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Algeria, highlighted the contribution of the national product to Algeria’s health and industrial sovereignty, ensuring continuous patient supply while meeting the highest quality standards. She outlined Novo Nordisk’s ambition to make Algeria a leader in insulin and metformin exports by 2025, targeting markets in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt with an estimated turnover exceeding 25 million euros.
In November 2023, Novo Nordisk Algeria’s Tizi Ouzou plant conducted its first metformin export to Libya.
Derghal emphasized Novo Nordisk’s commitment to Algeria’s healthcare system development through innovative treatments for diabetes, obesity, and rare diseases, alongside citizen initiatives. The company previously exported 140,000 boxes of antidiabetic tablets to Libya in November 2023 from its Tizi Ouzou facility.
The Novo Nordisk factory in Boufarik, inaugurated in January 2023, specializes in Flexpen insulin pens production, while the Tizi Ouzou plant, operational since 2006, manufactures oral antidiabetic formulations.
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