The president of Tunisia Kais Saied He reiterated that it is necessary to “work as quickly as possible to restore public health.” He said this yesterday during his meeting with the Minister of Health. Mustafa Ferjaniat the Carthage Palace, headquarters of the Tunisian presidency, adding that this becomes imperative given that “the allocated funds are available”, in addition to urging “simplify procedures and overcome all obstacles” in this regard. The focus of the discussions, according to a note from the presidency itself, is the reform of the public health structure, as well as work for the self-sufficiency of the Tunisian pharmaceutical industry. The Head of State praised the creation of numerous primary health care centers in several regions in record time, as well as the resumption of the activity of the Tunisian Society of Pharmaceutical Industries (Siphat) after it had stopped functioning. “Health is a human right and health, as foreseen by the World Health Organization, must be without borders,” concluded the president.
The Tunisian pharmaceutical industry company, Siphat, has resumed the production of injectable solutions, medicines and medical materials since last month, contributing to guaranteeing the national security of medicines. Pioneer of the pharmaceutical industry in Tunisia, the Tunisian Society of Pharmaceutical Industries Siphat guarantees the development, production and marketing of medicines for human use, in different forms. Since its creation, Siphat has sought to build customer loyalty in Tunisia and abroad. In the Tunisian market, the company stands out for a special and privileged position as the dean of the pharmaceutical industry sector, present on the market since 1970, a rich and varied range of products with 141 pharmaceutical patents, 109 hospital products, 135 pharmaceutical specialties and 15 therapeutic classes. Being the only Tunisian company that has the necessary equipment for the manufacture of massive solutions packaged in bags, Siphat covers a large part of the needs of the Tunisian market and has participation in the capital of other pharmaceutical companies such as Saiph, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre and Technopole Sidi Thabet.
In the years following independence, the pharmaceutical profession in Tunisia passed from the hands of the French to the Tunisians, especially in positions of responsibility in the sector such as the inspection of the Central Pharmacy (Pharmacie Centrale des Hôpitaux de Tunisie), as well as in in the hospital and doctor. Starting in 1957, the departure of pharmacists and representatives of foreign laboratories that guaranteed the importation and distribution of medicines in Tunisia led to the definition of new prerogatives of the Central Pharmacy of Tunisia. The latter are then in charge of opening medicine depots called “pharmaceutical agencies” in cities and towns without pharmacies and of guaranteeing the importation of medicines. Legislative Decree No. 61-2 of January 16, 1961 defines the central pharmacy as “a monopoly on the importation of all foreign pharmaceutical specialties” as well as the representation of products subsequently obtained. Tunisia is one of the first countries on the African continent to have a pharmaceutical industry. Since the early 1990s, the establishment of incentive measures and an adequate legal and regulatory framework have encouraged the privatization of the sector and its development. Coverage of the market’s drug needs through local production increased from 14 percent in 1990 to 49 percent in 2013.
According to the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists of Tunisia (Cnopt), sectoral investments and specific incentives have stimulated positive dynamics in recent years, highlighting the considerable evolution of the number of industrial units in the medicines and medical devices sectors in the country. , which has more than 56 pharmaceutical units, of which 28 are dedicated to medicines for human use, six to veterinary products and 22 to medical devices. According to Cnopt, these units contribute substantially to employment in Tunisia, with around 5,000 people employed in the sector, of which 48 percent are classified as managers. The data shows that in 2022, the Tunisian pharmaceutical industry enjoyed a strong presence in the global market, with a distribution between the private market (61 percent) and the hospital market (18 percent) and exporting 21 percent of its production in 39 towns. At the local level, the pharmaceutical industry has more than 3,000 registered medicines, for a total value of 650 million euros. Much of this value (54 percent) comes from local production, equivalent to 355 million units, or 77 percent of the total volume. Between 2022 and 2023, the market share of generic drugs increased from 42 to 46 percent. Over the past five years, locally produced generic drugs have seen steady annual growth, averaging 12 percent, compared to just 5.7 percent for originator drugs. Also noteworthy is the diversity of pharmaceutical forms manufactured in Tunisia, which covers a wide range of pharmaceutical products, such as highly active cytotoxics, biologicals, vaccines, serums, dry powders for inhalation (DPI), aerosols, injectables, radiopharmaceuticals, eye drops, dry . Medications in oral form, liquids for external and internal use.
Another strong point of the Tunisian pharmaceutical industry is compliance with the strictest international quality and safety standards. If partnerships with African players are strengthened, it is essential that the country takes into perspective the opportunities offered by the European market, whose penetration of Tunisian medicines represents a great challenge for local pharmaceutical producers, due to several factors, including the strong competition. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted Europe’s dependence on Asia for medicines, reviving calls for the offshoring of pharmaceutical ingredient production. The French National Academy of Pharmacy raised the alarm in 2020 calling for the relocation of the production of active ingredients, but also of finished products, excipients and even the necessary glassware: the entire production chain should be located nearby. In this context, the proximity of North Africa, and Tunisia in particular, offers a strategic opportunity for the country to establish a productive platform aimed at supplying the European market.
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