Saidal has begun the gradual restart of pharmaceutical production at the former HUP Pharma site in Constantine, three years after the facility was closed following inspections that found violations of good manufacturing practices. The state-owned group said the restart will help restore production capacity and support the supply of medicines to the domestic market.
According to a Saidal press release, the operation began on Thursday, August 20, under the supervision of CEO Younes Bouarara and in line with guidelines from Minister of the Pharmaceutical Industry Ouacim Kouidri. The facilities are now operated by Saidal as part of the group’s efforts to mobilize existing industrial capacity.
The restart will take place gradually, depending on the condition of the equipment, available human resources and pharmaceutical market needs. Saidal said production priorities will focus on medicines considered particularly important for patients and the national healthcare system, with the aim of maintaining availability and preventing potential supply disruptions.
As part of the reorganization, some medicines currently manufactured at Saidal’s Médéa facility will be produced at the Constantine site. The group said this temporary transfer will take place during construction and reorganization work at the Médéa facility, allowing production to continue and ensuring the continued availability of the affected medicines on the domestic market.
The reopening will also involve the gradual return of former workers and employees to the Constantine site. Saidal said their reintegration will correspond to the requirements of each stage of the production restart, while making use of the experience and technical expertise accumulated by the site’s former workforce and managers.
The Constantine facility was previously operated by HUP Pharma, a company that manufactured generic medicines for human use. Located in the Palma industrial zone, the site produced more than 60 products covering therapeutic areas including infectious diseases, cardiology, endocrinology, neuropsychiatry, hematology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, dermatology and gynecology.
The authorities ordered the closure of the facility in August 2023 after inspections identified what the former Ministry of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production described as violations of good manufacturing practices. The decision was taken on August 24 and announced two days later, based on Executive Decree No. 21-82 of February 23, 2021, concerning pharmaceutical establishments and their licensing requirements.
On August 27, 2023, the National Agency for Pharmaceutical Products (ANPP) ordered the recall of medicines manufactured by HUP Pharma, citing non-compliance with good manufacturing practices, including issues related to quality control and batch release procedures.
The closure subsequently triggered a dispute involving HUP Pharma, pharmaceutical distributors and pharmacists. In October 2023, the Association of Algerian Pharmaceutical Distributors reported difficulties in retrieving the affected products from pharmacies. The National Union of Community Pharmacists (SNAPO) also called for the withdrawal of products considered non-compliant.
HUP Pharma contested the allegations and argued that the recall was not supported by independent analyses. The company maintained that its products had previously received authorization from the ANPP and said no pharmacovigilance cases had been reported during its years of operation.
Saidal’s decision to reactivate the Constantine facility now forms part of a broader effort to make greater use of existing production infrastructure, human resources and national pharmaceutical expertise. The group said the restart is intended to strengthen domestic production capacity while supporting the continuity and security of medicine supplies.
Sami B. is the founder and editor of Algeria News Gate, an independent English-language platform covering Algeria’s political, economic, and business developments. Based in Europe, he reports on official announcements, economic trends, and international relations involving Algeria.