Algeria

Prior to 1991, Algeria maintained a state monopoly on pharmaceutical manufacture and imports. Following liberalisation, 80% of domestic need is now met through imports. The Ministry of Health and Population issued official guidelines, Circulaire No. 002, in October 1999 regarding the sale of pharmaceutical products. Under the guidelines, all pharmaceutical products sold in the future would have to be manufactured in Algeria. However, currently only 23% of medicines consumed in Algeria are produced locally, according to Amar Tou, the health and population minister. In line with this industrial policy, tariffs on imported medicines are slightly higher than on imported active ingredients required to manufacture medicines. The price of imported medicines is also driven up by a high VAT rate of 7% and additional customs fees of 2% and 0.4%.