Benbahmed: “The Vaccine Against Corona Virus Is Not Yet Ready”

“Algeria will receive the vaccine against COVID-19 as a priority as soon as the research work in the specialized laboratories is completed,” Mr. Lotfi Benbahmed, Minister Delegate for the Pharmaceutical Industry, said this morning from Bouira, where he made an inspection visit.

Mr Lotfi Benbahmed also assured that Algeria has received official commitments from all the laboratories in several countries that are currently working to produce this vaccine: “These laboratories all have offices in Algeria”, he said.

In addition, the Minister Delegate stated that Algeria has also received official commitments from the Chinese authorities for the immediate delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine if the laboratories in that country manage to produce it in the coming months: “China has officially committed itself to delivering the vaccine to us quickly and as a priority, if the Chinese laboratories and researchers manage to produce it first”, he said.

The host of Bouira also said that his services are currently preparing for a “major structural reform”, including the adoption of new legislation, to facilitate scientific research and develop the pharmaceutical industry in the country.

Mr. Benbahmed, explained the shortage of certain drugs by “the weakness of national production”. A gap that will be filled once the reforms are adopted and implemented, he noted.

Finally, it should be noted that during his working visit, the Deputy Minister visited two factories specialized in the pharmaceutical industry, located in the industrial zone of Lakhdaria.

The first plant specializes in the production of hydroxyl-chloroquine, a substance used for the treatment of patients suffering from the Covid-19 virus. According to the explanations of the director of the factory, no less than 130,000 boxes have already been produced and delivered to the central pharmacy of hospitals, while waiting for the next delivery of 180,000 boxes to the same public body.

The factory in question will produce by next September no less than 460,000 boxes of hydroxychloroquine. It should also be noted that the factory in question is the only factory in Algeria to produce this substance. At the second plant visited this morning, the Minister Delegate received explanations on the process set in motion for the manufacture of a rapid test to detect the Covid-19 virus.

The plant will have a production capacity of one million rapid tests once the process has been finalized. However, no date for the actual start of production has been brought forward.