Pharmaceutical Industry: Over 80% of Algeria’s National Demand Met by Local Production
✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers – October 2025 – Algeria’s pharmaceutical sector has reached a decisive milestone in its march toward self-sufficiency, with more than 82 percent of national pharmaceutical needs now covered by local production. The announcement was made by the Minister of the Pharmaceutical Industry, Wassim Kouidri, during his official visit to the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou on Monday, underscoring the country’s growing autonomy in the health sector and its alignment with the strategic vision of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for national health security.
According to Kouidri, this achievement encompasses both dry and liquid pharmaceutical forms, marking a substantial leap in Algeria’s industrial and health capacities. The minister further revealed that the country has attained near-total coverage in medical devices — an area where importation has been officially prohibited for two years. However, he pointed out the persistence of certain imported medical supplies entering the domestic market, vowing to conduct a comprehensive review to ensure full regulatory compliance and market discipline.
“Reducing the import bill remains one of our top priorities,” Kouidri emphasized, noting that this objective is central to the President’s program, which places health security at the heart of national sovereignty. He highlighted the pivotal role of the private sector in realizing this goal: “Out of the 230 pharmaceutical production units operating nationwide, 229 belong to the private sector — whether through self-financing or partnership initiatives,” he stated, while acknowledging that Saidal remains the sole public enterprise in the field.
In his address, the minister called on private investors, particularly from western and southern regions, to intensify their engagement in pharmaceutical manufacturing. “There is a noticeable concentration of production units in the Centre and East. The Ministry’s doors are wide open to those who wish to invest. All it takes is the submission of a complete file to obtain the required authorizations,” Kouidri assured, noting that strict instructions had been issued to central directors to facilitate and expedite these procedures.
As part of Algeria’s broader vision for the sector, Kouidri reaffirmed his ministry’s determination to expand pharmaceutical exports, which currently stand at approximately 50 million US dollars. The government’s target is to secure Level 3 (ML3) certification from the World Health Organization (WHO), attesting to the conformity of Algeria’s national pharmaceutical regulations with global standards. “The first phase, which concerned the legislative framework, has already been completed,” he said. “We are now entering the implementation phase, and we expect a WHO evaluation by late November or early December.”
The minister’s visit was accompanied by the Wali of Tizi Ouzou, Abou Bakr Essedik Boucetta, and the President of the Provincial People’s Assembly (APW), Sid Ali Youcef. Together, they inspected several strategic production sites, including Vicralys — specialized in interventional cardiology instruments — and Sutural, a leading manufacturer of surgical sutures in Draa Ben Khedda. The delegation also visited Aldaph in Oued Aissi, which focuses on dry-form treatments for diabetes and obesity.
Additionally, Kouidri toured three key industrial units: Cytolab, dedicated to the production of blood glucose test strips and medical collection tubes; DIMED, which manufactures both dry and aqueous pharmaceutical forms; and a facility producing laboratory consumables.
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