Pharmaceutical industry: Around 100 projects currently underway

Speaking on Algerian radio on Sunday, Dr Khadidja Bouguera, head of quality management at the National Agency for Pharmaceutical Products, attributed this progress to the momentum of ongoing projects and a more assertive policy of support for the sector, presented as a lever for health security. The Algerian Radio guest linked these results to government policy, in a context where institutional structures have been strengthened by the creation of a Ministry of Pharmaceutical Industry and the launch (in 2020), in the same year, of the National Agency for Pharmaceutical Products (ANPP).

More than 780 production lines for different therapeutic classes

In industrial terms, Algeria now has 233 drug production units and factories, which is already a significant base in the regional industrial fabric. In addition to this base, there are 100 new projects authorized by the Ministry of Pharmaceutical Industry and currently underway, a volume that the official puts into perspective by pointing out that it alone represents one-third of the drug factories on the African continent. The production apparatus is also reflected in the density of capacity, with more than 780 production lines covering different therapeutic classes, including drugs classified as “complex.” Certain products are highlighted as markers of local expertise.

Dr Bouguera states that Algeria is the only country in Africa and the Arab world to manufacture insulin pens entirely locally, a segment with high added value given the industrial and quality requirements. In oncology, she indicates that around 54 drug types for the treatment of cancer are manufactured locally, out of a total of around 200 drugs registered in the national directory dedicated to the fight against the disease.

Beyond volumes, the announced projects are presented as a source of jobs and a signal for investment, with an emphasis on “innovative drugs.” Among the projects mentioned are a biological research and vaccine production centre, and a new project with the Saidal group in cell therapy, which is expected to boost employment and support innovation.

Obtaining a “green light” for Algerian medicines

In this consolidation narrative, the challenge is no longer to produce more, but to broaden the technological spectrum and move the industry towards more specialized segments. The sector also highlights a regulatory aspect, presented as a condition for credibility and market access. Algeria welcomed a delegation of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) for a field visit to evaluate and monitor the national regulatory system applied to drug production, with a view to reaching level 3 of the Algerian regulatory authorities' capacity maturity model.

The official specifies that this system involves four actors, namely the Ministries of Health and Pharmaceutical Industry, the ANPP, and the National Pharmacovigilance Centre (CNPM). “A self-assessment conducted in June 2025 was followed by more than 430 recommendations from the WHO, covering nine essential functions, including registration, vigilance, inspection, and clinical trials,” she explains.

The stated objective is to complete the implementation of these recommendations before the official assessment, to increase efficiency and stability, pave the way for international recognition, and expand opportunities for partnership and export. At the same time, Dr Bouguera highlights “significant progress” in implementing the recommendations, with some exceeding 78% implementation, while approximately 30% remain in progress due to measures requiring more time.

Finally, she reports the WHO delegation's satisfaction with the volume of decisions and regulatory measures taken by the two ministries concerned and by the National Agency for Pharmaceutical Products, to update the implementing texts to international standards and facilitate the obtaining of a “green visa” for Algerian medicines.