Every year, fraud and diversion related to psychotropic drugs cause significant losses for Algeria, both in terms of health and economy. To address this, the National Union of Community Pharmacists (SNAPO) advocates for the rapid implementation of electronic prescriptions, a tool considered essential to strengthen the traceability and security of the medication supply chain.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting organized in Algiers by the Algerian Association of Pharmaceutical Distributors (Adpha), SNAPO spokesperson Karim Merghemi emphasized the urgent nature of this reform. “Electronic prescriptions are a necessity. They will ensure the traceability of psychotropic drugs and guarantee that they are dispensed only to patients who genuinely need them,” he declared.
According to him, pharmacists often face falsified or suspicious prescriptions, which are difficult to verify under the current system. The establishment of a centralized digital platform “will put an end to these practices” and enhance the safety of healthcare professionals, who are frequently exposed to risky situations. The union also warned against certain forms of organized diversion, where individuals consult multiple doctors on the same day to obtain several prescriptions for psychotropics, which are then resold on the black market. “This is a serious abuse that directly fuels drug trafficking,” warned Mr. Merghemi.
For SNAPO, the legal framework is in place. Law 23-05, adopted in 2023, provides for the creation of a national electronic directory of prescriptions related to narcotics and psychotropics. This register, under the authority of the Ministry of Health, should be accessible to practitioners, pharmacists, control services, customs, and judicial police. However, two years after the law’s adoption, the implementing decrees are still awaited. The union believes it is now time to take action.
Meanwhile, the government has announced its intention to create a national digital platform dedicated to the management of community pharmacies. This system aims to improve stock monitoring, drug availability, and the traceability of psychotropics and antibiotics, as part of a broader effort to modernize the pharmaceutical sector.
SNAPO President Sami Tirache said last September that the project is technically ready. The module dedicated to pharmacists is already operational, allowing real-time authentication and verification of prescriptions. “Only the module for doctors remains to be finalized, while ensuring the protection of personal data,” he clarified.
If realized, these projects would profoundly transform medication management in Algeria. SNAPO considers the digitization of prescriptions a strategic lever to secure the pharmaceutical supply chain, combat trafficking, and protect pharmacists.
Ultimately, this system could reduce the risks of diversion, particularly of products such as ecstasy, and ensure that only genuinely eligible patients have access to these strictly controlled treatments.