Noureddine Issad, general manager of Dar Al Dawa Algeria & Medi Pharma International unveils his ambitions to establish Dar Al Dawa as a major player in the Algerian market through local production of previously untapped product areas and discusses the new position of generics in the Algerian health industry.   Dar Al Dawa has a broad portfolio across a range of therapeutic areas. What is the rationale behind the choice of products produced locally in Algeria? I am responsible, in collaboration with the business department in Jordan, for deciding which products to manufacture. The dynamics of the market in Algeria change daily, as new companies enter the market. Thus, the manufacturing director and I must review and decide the best products to produce. I consider the whole Dar Al Dawa portfolio in Amman. From this, I select the products that are best suited to the Algerian market. Moreover, if a product is not required in Jordan, we still have the possibility to develop it exclusively for Algeria. I look to products which will have few competitors in the Algerian market. We altered the product selection from that of the previous General Manager because the market has changed so much in the last few months, so we must adapt.   In which areas do you have the strongest presence in Algeria? Our strongest products are currently antibiotics, namely cephalosporins. However, we are developing the market of products in different therapeutic areas such as urology, cardiology and gastroenterology. We are seeking to expand our presence in eye drops. This will be vital: most of these products on the market are currently imported.   You mentioned that your factory, once fully operational, will be able to manufacture eye drops. How important will this product be for you in Algeria?

Our first product should be manufactured in January 2019. I am confident that we can gain a substantial market share