New Decrees Enhance Health Product Oversight
The Algerian Council of Ministers has given its approval to two draft executive decrees designed to regulate the prescription of pharmaceutical products and food supplements. Announced by Minister of Health, Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene, at the second International Congress of Pharmacy, these measures mark a significant step towards reinforcing health security and quality in Algeria. The first decree focuses on establishing conditions and modalities for pharmaceutical prescriptions, aiming to create a clearer framework for medication dispensing and promote rational use. The second decree outlines the technical characteristics required for food supplements intended for human medicine. Both texts are currently in the final stages of publication in the Official Gazette.
A key provision within the new regulatory framework for food supplements mandates their exclusive dispensing by pharmacists. This initiative is designed to guide consumers toward appropriate usage, thereby enhancing product safety and quality while mitigating risks associated with unregulated or excessive consumption. According to Minister Ait Messaoudene, these decrees contribute to the establishment of a modern national framework for food supplement oversight, aligning with international standards and prioritizing consumer protection. The emphasis on regulating these products underscores Algeria's commitment to robust public health policies.
Beyond these immediate regulatory actions, the Minister highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at modernizing Algeria's health sector and strengthening health sovereignty. These include the development of a national health map, intended to continuously adapt healthcare provision to population needs, improve citizen access to services, and ensure equitable distribution across all regions. The map will encompass pharmacies and medical analysis laboratories as essential local structures, guiding the allocation of medical equipment and human resources. Furthermore, the ministry is advancing digital transformation through national platforms, such as an electronic medical record system developed with Algerian expertise and a platform for managing medical equipment, underscoring the nation's focus on technological self-reliance and efficient resource management.
The security of medicine is a core component of Algeria's health sovereignty agenda, with the state actively supporting the national pharmaceutical industry. This support includes expanding and diversifying domestic production, encouraging investment and technology transfer, and developing local competencies. Such policies are crucial for meeting national health demands and reducing vulnerabilities within supply chains. The updated regulatory framework also reinforces the pivotal role of pharmacists, whose responsibilities extend beyond dispensing medication to include patient safety, proper product use, quality assurance, prevention, and public health awareness, signifying a modernized professional landscape in coordination with scientific and professional bodies.
