(MEBG) – Ali Aoun, director general of Saidal Group, has issued a strong warning about the negative effects of low-quality drugs in the Algerian market. The statement was made at the first anniversary of the research and development center of the Algerian pharmaceutical Group.
Although Aoun refrained from pointing his finger at specific companies, he said that there are approximately five such importers of poor quality and low-cost drugs in the country.
Aoun was mainly concerned about poor-quality pharmaceutical imports into the country from neighboring "countries that are known to be indifferent to the quality of their produced medication". This, he said, has forced producer to offer their drugs at significantly lower prices–an act which is actually forbidden by the law. Aoun condemned such practices, and specifically referred to injectable products such as analgesics and antibiotics.
Aoun conformed that the matter had been brought to the government’s attention. "The health minister is willing to pledge war against these producers of low-quality and low-cost drugs," he said. The Saidal Group is not looking for governmental aid, but rather for the protection of the national medical system, he added.
And how may the government assist remedying the situation? The simplest approach is enforcing existing regulations, Aoun said. It is a fact, he declared, many private importers do not comply with existing laboratory guidelines.
