Kouidri: A Practical Plan to Encourage the Export of Pharmaceutical Products
The Minister of Pharmaceutical Industry, Wasim Kouidri, confirmed on Sunday in Algiers the priority granted by his ministry to achieving comprehensive digitalization of the sector during 2026, particularly in the field of administrative services and the full digitalization of pharmaceutical product registration files, as well as the inclusion of a pharmaceutical serialization track and trace system.
Kouidri explained, during a hearing before the Health, Social Affairs, Labor, and Vocational Training Committee at the National People’s Assembly, that the pharmaceutical industry sector will establish a digital system for the remote submission of import program files and accreditation requests, “which guarantees transparency and speed in processing.”
Local market coverage by domestic production reached 83 percent by December 2025.
The ministry also aims to fully digitalize pharmaceutical product registration files at the level of the National Agency for Pharmaceutical Products, and to include a serialization track and trace system within the specifications framework to ensure monitoring of medicine movement and protect consumers from counterfeit medicines.
On the other hand, Kouidri pointed out that the sector will adopt in 2026 a new strategy based on adapting regulatory provisions, accelerating the review of high added-value investment projects, and directing investment toward areas experiencing shortages, while focusing on achieving higher levels of national integration and health security.
Accordingly, an approach was adopted for handling accreditation files, in coordination with the National Agency for Pharmaceutical Products, alongside strengthening field inspections and technical support to enable qualified units to obtain certificates of compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices standards and open export opportunities for them, the minister added. He noted that this will strengthen the ability of the national product to enter international markets and promote a culture of quality.
While highlighting the steps Algeria has taken to strengthen local pharmaceutical production, the minister stressed the praise of the World Health Organization for the qualitative results achieved by Algeria in this vital field, stating that it “considered Algeria a qualified regional hub capable of supplying the African continent with medicines and medical supplies according to international quality and safety standards.”
He added in this context that the Intra-African Trade Fair hosted by Algeria last September “formed a strategic platform to promote the Algerian pharmaceutical product, highlight its competitive capabilities, and explore industrial and commercial partnership opportunities with African operators.”
Kouidri also stated that the ministry has developed a “practical” plan to encourage the export of pharmaceutical products through supporting industrial units in obtaining international accreditation, in line with the state’s strategy aimed at diversifying exports outside hydrocarbons and transforming Algeria into a continental industrial hub.
Regarding the coverage of the national pharmaceutical market through local production, the minister pointed out that it reached around 83 percent by December 2025, with the number of pharmaceutical manufacturing institutions exceeding 233 accredited establishments, including 138 specialized institutions.
More than 4,180 locally manufactured pharmaceutical products were also registered out of 5,557 medicines listed in the national registry, including strategic and sensitive medicines, especially those intended for chronic and complex diseases, such as anti-cancer drugs, biosimilars, and insulin pens.
This dynamic directly impacted the import bill, which declined from 1.25 billion dollars in 2022 to 718 million dollars in 2023, and 515 million dollars in 2024, with expectations of further decline in 2025, allowing a reduction in the import bill by approximately 482 million dollars, the minister added. He also noted that the national pharmaceutical market witnessed “structural” growth, as its value increased from 4.8 billion dollars to 5.5 billion dollars.
As for exports, the minister indicated that their value doubled from 6.12 million dollars in 2023 to 23.15 million dollars in 2024, with a growth rate exceeding 300 percent, with expectations of “doubling” this value during 2025, “reflecting the improved competitiveness of the national product and the growing regional and international confidence in the Algerian pharmaceutical industry.”
Kouidri also addressed the situation of the public group “Saidal,” noting that its turnover is expected to exceed 42 billion Algerian dinars in 2025, compared to 18 billion dinars in 2023.