Algiers: Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb delivered a message on behalf of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the opening ceremony of the African Ministerial Conference on Local Production of Medicines. The event, held at the Abdelatif Rahal International Conference Center, was attended by government officials, senior state representatives, international institutions, African diplomats, and healthcare sector representatives from over 15 countries.
According to Algeria Press Service, President Tebboune highlighted the urgency for Africa to develop its pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. He stated, “It is unreasonable for Africa, a center of wealth and competence, a source of talent that benefits all countries, to remain dependent, importing almost all of its healthcare-related needs.” He emphasized the critical need for African nations to localize the production of essential medicines, vaccines, and medical devices to ensure health sovereignty amidst current global and continental challenges.
President Tebboune
reiterated Algeria’s commitment to African solidarity and regional complementarity, aligning with the vision to make Africa a sovereign and integrated continent. He noted that the conference, in line with the African Union’s Vision 2063, is pivotal for implementing the African pharmaceutical industry strategy, essential for meeting the continent’s health technology needs.
He expressed hope that the conference would mark a significant shift in African cooperation in health and industry, culminating in the “Algiers Declaration.” This declaration aims to establish partnerships that guarantee African nations the right to healthcare and development, empowering the continent to produce its own medicines and achieve health sovereignty.
The President highlighted Algeria’s selection by the World Health Organization to host the conference, acknowledging the country’s advancements and reforms in its pharmaceutical sector. Algeria hosts over a third of Africa’s pharmaceutical companies, with significant ongoing project
s and a strategic focus on the pharmaceutical industry since 2020.
President Tebboune underscored Algeria’s strategic prioritization of the pharmaceutical sector as a national priority for health security, supported by structural reforms, regulatory development, and investment facilitation. This has led to a national coverage of locally produced medicines exceeding 80 percent and a focus on expanding exports to African markets.