Novo Nordisk Algeria Marks World Diabetes Day with Maiden Shipment of Antidiabetic Drugs to Libya

BY: Hana Saada

ALGIERS- In commemoration of World Diabetes Day, Novo Nordisk Algeria has initiated its first shipment of 140,000 boxes of antidiabetic tablets destined for Libya. The pharmaceutical giant’s production site in Tizi-Ouzou serves as the launching pad for this inaugural export operation.

The commencement ceremony took place in the presence of local authorities, ministerial delegations from the commerce and health sectors, parliamentarians from both chambers, and ambassadors from Denmark and Libya in Algeria, as reported by APS (Algerian Press Service).

This significant export milestone aligns with the Algerian government’s strategic objectives to boost export activities, emphasized by officials from Novo Nordisk and the Wali Djilali Doumi.

Novo Nordisk Algeria’s production capabilities position it to cater to the domestic market with various products and explore foreign markets, starting with Africa and expanding to Europe and other global regions, given the compliance of its products with international standards, assured Mourad Hedjem, the site director.

The Tizi-Ouzou facility, operational since 2006, remains the sole producer of dry forms of antidiabetic medications in Africa. Its production capacity not only meets the national demand but also facilitates export ventures, according to a statement from the pharmaceutical group.

In January of the current year, the Algerian-Danish company further invested in a second plant located in Boufarik, Blida province. This additional facility stands as the exclusive producer of insulin pens on the continent, as outlined in the company’s official documentation.

As part of the World Diabetes Day observance, Novo Nordisk Algeria set up a mobile diabetes screening clinic at the production site. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, this initiative, launched in 2011, has successfully screened approximately 160,000 individuals to date.

Novo Nordisk Algeria’s commitment to addressing diabetes and expanding its global reach underscores its pivotal role in both the Algerian pharmaceutical landscape and the broader healthcare sector.