Connected Caravan Aids Early Detection in Expanded Cancer Battle
Algeria is significantly advancing its comprehensive response to cancer, elevating the fight against cancerous pathologies to a national cause under presidential impetus. Health authorities have reiterated their commitment to transform oncological care, structuring a global response that includes substantial financial investments and modernization of healthcare networks. The National Fund for the Fight Against Cancer has received a significant boost this year, with an initial allocation of 73 billion dinars augmented by an additional 40 billion dinars, totaling 113 billion dinars. This unprecedented budgetary effort has facilitated the integration of 52 innovative treatments into the national therapeutic arsenal and accelerated the upgrade of medical equipment across the country.
Prevention is central to this strategy, with a new technological dimension for early detection, particularly concerning breast cancer, which accounts for 45% of female cancers in Algeria, with over 14,000 diagnoses annually. A national campaign for enhanced early detection of breast cancer, set to run until January 2027, has been launched. This initiative utilizes a connected caravan equipped with digital technology, directly linked to the Pierre-et-Marie-Curie Center (CPMC) in Algiers. This teleradiology system enables a double reading of images: an initial assessment is conducted within the mobile clinic, followed by specialized expertise from the CPMC transmitted to field practitioners with a certified medical report provided within 24 hours.
Parallel to advancements in care structures, Algeria is strengthening its industrial capacity in the fight against cancer. The public pharmaceutical group Saidal is playing a pivotal role in reducing reliance on imports and securing hospital supplies. Since the beginning of the year, Saidal has delivered 25 billion dinars worth of pharmaceutical products to the Central Hospital Pharmacy. The company has expanded its oncological portfolio to include dry forms, targeted therapies, and immunological treatments, all locally formulated according to international standards. This therapeutic expansion is also accompanied by diversification into other major chronic conditions, with Saidal preparing to introduce a new generation of oral molecules for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
