Recognized as a promising domain within the framework of the national strategy for economic and export diversification, the pharmaceutical sector is now setting its sights on international expansion, having successfully covered over 80 percent of domestic requirements. To further accelerate the entry of Algerian medicines into global commerce, Algeria aims to align with global benchmarks, particularly those set by the World Health Organization (WHO), by training commercial operators in the UN agency’s prequalification procedures.
Positioning its pharmaceutical products in foreign markets, primarily across Africa, forms a core pillar of the strategy pursued by the Pharmaceutical Industry Ministry, which is actively guiding enterprise leaders through this transition.
A specialized workshop targeting economic operators within the manufacturing industry focused on WHO prequalification standards was conducted Saturday at the Pharmaceutical Industry Ministry headquarters, presided over by department head Wassim Kouidri in coordination with WHO experts, aimed at facilitating foreign market entry for domestic drugs, according to a official statement.
Speaking at the event, the minister emphasized that this program falls within Algeria’s push to strengthen its national regulatory system and elevate manufacturing practices to international standards. “This initiative seeks to enhance the competitiveness of local production and facilitate its access to foreign markets, particularly across Africa,” he noted, stressing that health sovereignty extends beyond domestic self-sufficiency to establishing an active presence abroad through “transforming our production capacity into a strong global presence and advancing drug exports as a key driver of the non-hydrocarbon economy.”
Mr. Kouidri also urged all targeted manufacturers to fully commit to this pathway, assuring that the ministry alongside the National Agency for Pharmaceutical Products will provide the technical and regulatory backing necessary to achieve this milestone.
This training initiative was delivered by a panel of Algerian professionals from the diaspora, who shared their high-level expertise and global experience in WHO prequalification, the ministry highlighted. These specialists outlined best practices alongside the technical and administrative protocols that Algerian pharmaceutical establishments must adopt to meet internationally recognized benchmarks.