Algeria imported 1 billion dollars’ worth of medicines in 7 months

Algeria’s imports of pharmaceuticals slumped in late July in a decreasing trend witnessed since the beginning of the year by scaling back to 252 million dollars during the first seven months of 2013 compared to the same period of the previous year.

According to official figures released Wednesday by the customs’ services, the Algerian imports of medicines reached 1.09 billion dollars from January to July 2013 against 1.34 billion dollars during the same period of 2012 that is a slump of over 250 million dollars.

In terms of volume, the imported quantities of pharmaceutical products witnessed an increase to 23.201 tonnes against 20.118 tonnes during the same period of last year.

The imported medicines destined to veterinary medicine attained 20.11 million dollars and those of para- pharmaceuticals were set at 30.87 million dollars.

According to customs sources, the hike in the price of imported medicines has been at the origin of the steady financial increase in the amount of invoices related to imports between 2011 and 2012.

The same sources indicated, to this effect, that in 2013 these astronomical invoices slumped thanks to the stemming of this nefarious phenomenon by the customs’ services which succeeded last year in singling out several ill-advised medical laboratories involved in these fraudulent practices.

All in all, Algeria imports 70% of its needs of medicines. In 2012, Algerian imports of pharmaceutical products reached 2.23 billion dollars.