Physical Address
Indirizzo: Via Mario Greco 60, Buttigliera Alta, 10090, Torino, Italy
Minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production, Ali Aoun.
The Minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production, Ali Aoun, gave firm directives for the launch of local production of influenza vaccine as soon as possible, so that it can be delivered next September. This was indicated by the ministry in a press release.
Aoun received representatives of the Abbott Algeria laboratories and the Saidal Group to examine the project for the local production of vaccine against seasonal flu. During the meeting, which took place at the ministry’s headquarters, the various stakeholders presented the detailed plan for this production.
The minister insisted on the imperative of accelerating the effective start of production in order to cover the entire national market before the end of next August, the objective being that the first doses be distributed in September, in forecast of the national influenza vaccination campaign, particularly for vulnerable people.
Aoun stressed the importance of respecting this schedule, noting the need to “guarantee the availability of the vaccine in due time” and to avoid any delay in its production. He also called for a collective mobilization of all stakeholders concerned to ensure the success of this project in order to be ready for the September meeting.
It should be noted that this meeting is in line with the efforts made by the State to strengthen the country’s health sovereignty and guarantee the population’s access to quality vaccines.
As a reminder, since his installation at the head of the sector, Mr. Aoun has made the relaunch of vaccine production in Algeria one of his priorities, the objective being to ensure health security and to free himself from the importation of medicines according to the directives of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
The local seasonal influenza vaccine production project is an important step in realizing the sector’s ambitions for local pharmaceutical production. This project will not only meet national needs for seasonal flu vaccines but also reduce the country’s dependence on imports. Especially since Algeria currently imports almost all of its flu vaccine needs.
The ambition displayed in the medium term is, in addition to the production of serums, to tackle the production of the raw materials necessary for their preparation. This will make it possible to strengthen and energize the pharmaceutical industry, according to the minister’s statements during these various media outings.
It should be remembered that during the launch of the seasonal flu vaccination campaign for the 2023/2024 season, the Ministry of Health acquired two million doses of vaccine, intended specifically for vulnerable categories.
The flu vaccine constitutes a first step in relaunching vaccine production in Algeria. Advanced discussions are underway between the Pasteur Institute of Algeria (IPA) and foreign suppliers for technology transfer that will allow the country to expand its production range. In the short term, Algeria plans to produce 50% of its vaccine needs, which should halve the budget devoted to the implementation of the national vaccination program, estimated at 36 billion dinars (around 245 million euros) in the 2024 finance law.
The Director General of the IPA, Dr Fawzi Derrar, said in March that the Pasteur Institute had launched an assessment of the capacity to invest in vaccine production. An international call for tenders has also been launched to audit existing buildings which could house production lines. He indicated that these production lines will allow the Institute to reposition itself on certain strategic vaccines, such as the yellow fever vaccine or those which are in the expanded vaccination program. He also said that the institute aims to increase the production of rabies vaccine and antiscorpion serum for export.
The CEO of the IPA revealed that, in this context, a partnership with the Saidal Group was established and advanced discussions with foreign suppliers were launched in order to have a technology transfer in this area. He also indicated that it was better for Algeria to strengthen its capacities by several vaccine producers, thus allowing it to have a vaccine industry in the country.