Algiers, Algeria – The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has lauded Algeria as a model for pharmaceutical manufacturing, both in Africa and globally.
In a recorded address delivered at the opening of the African Ministerial Conference on Pharmaceutical Production and Health Technology in Algiers, Ghebreyesus highlighted Algeria’s success in meeting over 80% of its domestic drug needs through local production. The conference, held at the Abdellatif Rahal International Conference Centre, was under the high patronage of the President of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Seifi Grib.
The WHO Director-General emphasized that Algeria, with its commitment to local production and over 230 pharmaceutical companies, has demonstrated a strong capacity to meet its national requirements, making it a leading example for other nations.
Ghebreyesus expressed his hope that other African countries would learn from Algeria’s pioneering experience. He stressed that expanding local and regional production is essential for safeguarding and improving health across Africa. He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant gaps in access to vaccines and other health products due to the concentration of pharmaceutical manufacturing in a limited number of countries.
Furthermore, Ghebreyesus stated that boosting national and regional pharmaceutical production is crucial for enhancing preparedness and response to epidemics and pandemics. It is also vital for advancing universal health coverage and addressing health threats, including antimicrobial resistance.
He mentioned that WHO member states are currently negotiating a system for sharing benefits and accessing pathogens to ensure equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, treatments, and other medical products in future pandemics. Local production, he affirmed, will play a fundamental role in achieving this vision.
The WHO, he added, is committed to supporting the local production of medicines.
