Below we present recent news from Algeria’s pharmaceutical industry, including the creation of a dedicated Ministry to boost the sector, changes to the advertising rules for dietary supplements, and local medical device manufacturers’ efforts in the fight against COVID-19.
Government: Broad prerogatives for the newly created Ministry of Pharmaceutical Industry
The regulation of the drug and medical device market, and organization of pharmaceutical activities, including manufacturing, import, export and distribution, which hitherto have depended on the Ministry of Health, Population and Hospital Reform, will now be the main missions of the new Ministry of Pharmaceutical Industry, created during the June’s cabinet reshuffle.
Government: Algeria determined to cover 70 percent of its domestic pharmaceutical needs by 2022.
The Minister of Pharmaceutical Industry, Lotfi Benbahmed, stressed the need to develop local production of drugs and medical devices in order to meet the country’s needs in this area within two years. He also recalled that four decrees are being finalized, allowing for the implementation of new pharmaceutical policies incentivizing local manufacturers.
Dietary supplements: The Audiovisual Regulatory Authority (ARAV) suspends TV advertising
Advertising campaigns to promote dietary supplements are suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, and will in future require prior authorization issued by the competent scientific authorities for any health benefit claim, according to the Audiovisual Regulatory Authority (ARAV) in its press release of July 8, 2020.
COVID-19: Salem Diagnostics and Vital Care launch local production of rapid diagnostic tests
The Salem Diagnostics laboratories (based in Sétif, 300km east of Algiers) and Vital Care company (based in Algiers), which already produce self-monitoring blood glucose strips in Algeria, received homologation for local production of COVID-19 IgG/IgM rapid diagnostic tests at very competitive prices, thus contributing to national efforts to fight the pandemic.
https://www.algerie360.com/20200625-laboratoires-salem-diagnostic-et-la-societe-vital-care/
COVID-19: IMGSA medical devices manufacturer will export 50 million surgical gloves to Spain
The IMGSA group (based in Oum Bouaghi, 450km south-east Algiers), which recently received CE marking for its products, has just won an export market of 50 million surgical gloves to Spain, for an amount of EUR five million. The group has received orders from several European, African and Asian countries, said the company’s chief executive.
