Importers behind medicines shortage in Algeria, says union

National pharmacists’ union accused medicines importers of causing shortage of 60 types of medicines in Algeria.

• “There has been a lack of about 60 types of medicines in the country for few months as medicines importers attempted to foil the government’s decision to stop importing locally-produced medicines,” secretary general of the union Messaoud Belamri said.
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• “The scarce medicines are necessary for people suffering from chronic diseases, high blood pressure and allergy,” he added.
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• On October 21 2008, Algerian health ministry announced a list of 359 locally-produced medicines not allowed to be imported.
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• The ban aims at developing national pharmaceutical production Algeria’s pharmaceutical production covers 30 percent of the domestic need.