Algerian Minister of Health, Mohamed Sidik Ait Messoudene, held a series of discussions on Saturday with several African officials, focusing on strengthening health cooperation and the pharmaceutical industry across the continent.
During a meeting with the representative of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Assohoun Marie Chantal, at the Abdellatif Rahal International Conference Center, on the sidelines of the Ministerial Conference on Local Production of Medicines and Other Health Technologies, Ait Messoudene emphasized Algeria’s commitment to further enhancing African cooperation in the areas of the pharmaceutical industry, health security, and sustainable development. The conference was held under the high patronage of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
According to a statement from the Algerian Ministry of Health, the two sides reviewed their respective countries’ health policies and affirmed the importance of deepening the exchange of expertise and scientific experiences, particularly in the field of digital pharmaceutical platforms and training programs. They recognized these tools as essential for enhancing the efficiency of the health sector and achieving comprehensive and sustainable health coverage for their populations. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued joint work and the activation of the provisions of the ‘Algiers Declaration,’ contributing to building a more integrated and sustainable African health system and achieving self-sufficiency in medicines on the African continent.
Ait Messoudene also discussed with the Secretary of State of the Republic of Chad, Mbaidedidje Dikandje Francine, ways to enhance cooperation in the pharmaceutical field, including developing national pharmaceutical industries, strengthening the production capabilities of local factories, and ensuring the quality of pharmaceutical products according to international standards.
The importance of supporting scientific research in the field of developing new medicines and encouraging investments in the pharmaceutical industries to enhance self-sufficiency for both countries and the African continent in general was also highlighted.
Furthermore, Ait Messoudene engaged in discussions with UNICEF’s Regional Director of Supplies for the Middle East and North Africa, Abdullah Makhlouf, regarding opportunities to strengthen cooperation in the field of local production of medicines, health technologies, and vaccines. Makhlouf commended Algeria for its continental leadership role, noting that the increasing demand for health supplies in the MENA region opens promising prospects for cooperation with Algeria, given the development of its pharmaceutical industry. The UNICEF representative in Algeria, Catarina Johansson, also praised Algeria’s leadership role in the region.
