Tunisian Pharmaceutical Professionals Call for Local Production of Biosimilars
Tunisian pharmaceutical professionals are urging authorities to launch the local production of biosimilars without delay, emphasizing the need to catch up with countries like Indonesia, India, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. This plea was made during the national forum on the biopharmaceutical industry, held today in Tunis by the Sidi Thabet biotechnology hub in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
According to Kamel Idir, President of the Tunisian Association of Generic Medicines and an expert with the World Health Organization (WHO), Tunisia has the necessary scientific and technical expertise to venture into this strategic sector, which offers an effective and much cheaper alternative to chemical medicines. Local production of these treatments could reduce healthcare costs by up to 80%, while also alleviating the burden on social security funds.
Idir also stressed the need for a suitable regulatory framework, with market authorization granted within reasonable timeframes, and strict quality control mechanisms to ensure patient safety.
For his part, Hassen Lammouchi, President of the National Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industries, advocated for concrete incentives for manufacturers, particularly during the first three years of activity in this field, as well as flexible and encouraging legislation.
Currently, Tunisia continues to import the majority of its biologic medicines, which weighs heavily on the state budget and hinders the development of a pharmaceutical sector with significant potential.
