🇩🇿AlgeriaNorth Africa
Algeria establishes expert commission to define national essential medicines list
via Algérie3602 min read
Algeria's Minister of Pharmaceutical Industry, Wassim Kouidri, officially launched a multidisciplinary expert commission on Thursday. This commission is tasked with finalizing the national list of essential medicines to ensure quality care for Algerian patients. The creation of this commission follows a direct instruction from the President of the Republic to guarantee the constant availability of medicines across the country. The minister stated that Algeria will no longer produce or import randomly. The experts' work will inform a national production strategy based on the population's therapeutic needs, optimizing national manufacturing and import programs according to prevalent pathologies, and preventing stock shortages of vital products. The initiative will also monitor global scientific advancements to integrate effective therapeutic innovations. Chaired by Professor Amar Tebaibia, the commission comprises 21 members from strategic sectors, including National Defense, Health, Higher Education, Social Security, the National Agency for Pharmaceutical Products ANPP, the Central Hospital Pharmacy PCH, the Pasteur Institute, and the National Pharmacovigilance Center. Minister Kouidri emphasized the high expertise of these specialists, whose mission is to conduct a rigorous technical and scientific evaluation to update the national essential medicines list. Professor Tebaibia highlighted that the commission's work will guide local manufacturers and importers, ensuring that in
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Algérie360.
A corruption case involving 21 defendants, including officials from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion and economic operators, is being heard by the Dar El Beïda correctional court. The public prosecutor has requested prison sentences ranging from four to ten years, depending on the involvement of each individual. Twelve defendants, including five women and several ministry employees, have been placed in pre-trial detention, while others are under judicial supervision. The prosecution has sought four years in prison and a fine of 200,000 dinars for several defendants accused of influence peddling. The main defendant, a secretary in the ministry's cabinet, faces a seven-year prison sentence and a one million dinar fine. Other officials could receive five years for abuse of office and exploitation of influence. The investigation uncovered an organized system of favoritism and illegal facilitation for certain economic operators. The main defendant allegedly used WhatsApp to communicate with colleagues and businessmen to expedite case processing in exchange for financial compensation, with amounts ranging from 100,000 to 250,000 dinars. The Ministry of Foreign Trade, as a civil party, is seeking 10 million dinars in compensation for damages. The case began in September 2025 following a report to the national gendarmerie, which led to the recovery of the main suspect's phone and crucial evidence.
Mohamed Seghir Saâdaoui, the Algerian Minister of National Education, confirmed that a reform of the current educational programs and system is under consideration by the Directorate General of Education. Speaking at the launch of the baccalaureate exams for the June 2026 session, the Minister clarified the future direction of Algerian schooling. He reviewed various pedagogical models globally, noting that some countries focus on fundamental subjects while others use a coefficient system. However, Saâdaoui defended the Algerian model, stating that its current program and system have achieved a respectable level recognized internationally. He emphasized that there is no intention to abandon past achievements, warning that it is not easy to relinquish the country's current standing by adopting a different program. The Minister concluded that this pursuit of stability does not prevent necessary improvements and adjustments to the current program, indicating a path toward gradual modernization rather than abrupt change. The baccalaureate exams were launched from Tizi Ouzou, a region the Minister praised for consistently achieving top national results. He attributed these exceptional performances to efforts within its schools and called for educational institutions to organize twinning sessions between different wilayas to exchange expertise and share successful experiences. By choosing Tizi Ouzou for the launch, the Ministry aimed to motivate education directorates nationwide to
The U.S. Embassy in Algeria recently convened key national agricultural and industrial stakeholders to discuss optimizing oilseed processing and developing the animal feed sector. This initiative, a technical seminar titled "Optimizing Oilseed Processing and Animal Feed Production," marks a further step in strengthening economic ties between Algiers and Washington. The event involved leading institutions such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA, the U.S. Soybean Export Council USSEC, the Soybean Innovation Lab, and the University of Missouri. This collaboration occurs amidst a significant increase in agricultural trade, with U.S. soybean exports to Algeria more than doubling between 2025 and 2026, driven by growing local demand for livestock feed. Mark Schapiro, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, stated that high-quality, sustainable U.S. soybeans contribute to Algeria's food security goals by supporting its poultry and livestock sectors and generating demand for local processing facilities. Over the course of a week, American and Algerian experts will share knowledge and promote industrial innovation through technical discussions and best practice sharing. The objective is to enhance Algeria's capabilities in oilseed crushing and animal feed manufacturing. This event underscores the strong, long-standing relationship between the United States and Algeria, highlighting their joint efforts to ensure agricultural productivity, food security, and sustainable economic growth.