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Imene Belabbas, the Central Director of Pharmaco-Economics at the Algerian Ministry of the Pharmaceutical Industry, confirmed that Saidal’s innovative, locally produced insulin Glargine will soon be available on the market. This slow-acting insulin (24 hours) is developed in collaboration with a foreign partner, reducing the need for daily injections for diabetic patients.
Belabbas emphasised that to bolster local production capacity, both private and public manufacturers will contribute to increasing supply. While no specific timeline has been established, Algeria aims to decrease import costs, and the pharmaceutical sector is included in this effort. “Strategic and costly” insulins will no longer be imported, with a significant reduction in imports already noted last year. Algeria is also looking to export, having successfully sent insulin to Saudi Arabia through a private operator last year, with further export plans from private companies this year.
However, Algeria’s ambition for self-sufficiency in pharmaceuticals is challenged by its dependence on raw materials sourced only from China and India. Belabbas stated that the solution lies in encouraging local manufacturing and localizing raw material production. Most supply issues stem from raw material shortages and international price fluctuations. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Algeria initiated efforts to manufacture raw materials domestically, with projects already launched for antibiotics, insulin, and oncology drugs.
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Belabbas explained that global tensions regarding certain medications arise from “late deliveries, price fluctuations, or non-compliance with international regulations.” Nonetheless, alternatives for most drugs exist, and a dedicated reporting platform has been established to track the availability of medicines among manufacturers, importers, and distributors. This platform will help “anticipate shortages, enhance availability, and direct investment toward areas of need in the pharmaceutical sector.”
Saidal, founded in 1982, is a leading Algerian pharmaceutical company and one of the largest in Africa, specializing in the production and distribution of generic drugs.
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