• Algerian pharmacists urge rollout of digital prescription system
• Plan targets psychotropic drug trafficking, prescription fraud
• Law 23-05 backs e-registry; physician integration still pending

SNAPO, the Algerian union of retail pharmacists, is renewing its push for a national digital prescription system to regulate the prescribing and dispensing of psychotropic drugs. Union spokesperson Karim Merghemi said the measure is vital to protect pharmacists and curb the trafficking of controlled substances.

“The digitization of prescriptions is essential,” Merghemi said during a meeting in Algiers organized by the Algerian Pharmaceutical Distributors Association (Adpha). He noted that paper prescriptions remain prone to fraud, with some patients obtaining multiple prescriptions from different doctors to supply the black market.

The drive for electronic prescriptions is backed by Law 23-05 of 2023, which mandates a national electronic registry for prescriptions of narcotics and psychotropics, accessible to healthcare providers and regulators. SNAPO said the module for retail pharmacies has been completed, but integration on the physicians’ side is still awaiting data-protection clearances.

Meanwhile, the government announced plans last year to develop a national digital platform for managing retail pharmacies. The initiative aims to monitor pharmacies, track drug availability, and improve oversight of psychotropic drugs and antibiotics, complementing efforts to modernize the pharmaceutical sector.

If implemented, these projects could reshape Algeria’s pharmaceutical landscape. SNAPO considers the e-prescription system a key tool for securing the drug supply chain and protecting pharmacists. A swift rollout, it says, would help curb trafficking, particularly of psychotropics such as ecstasy, reinforce regulatory compliance, and ensure that only legitimate patients can access such treatments.

Samira Njoya