Sahrawi Refugee Drug Laboratory Opened in 1996
A facility in Algeria continues to produce essential medical supplies for refugees living in the Tindouf camps.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Nutrition
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Inaugurated in 1996, the Mohamed Embarek Fakal·la Pharmaceutical Production Laboratory operates in the Tindouf camps in Algeria to help meet health needs. The facility currently supports the refugee population by producing medications and supplies, including 200 bags of sodium chloride each month.
Why it matters
This laboratory was established as an emergency reserve to mitigate chronic medication shortages for the 173,000 Sahrawi refugees residing in the camps. By maintaining local production capabilities, the facility provides a crucial buffer for regional healthcare access.
Operating as a local pharmaceutical production hub, the facility relies on 11 technicians to manage output. The laboratory recently completed a study on anemia and malnutrition treatments between May and November 2025.
The players
Mohamed Embarek Fakal·la Pharmaceutical Production Laboratory
A facility in Algeria that manufactures essential medications and nutritional supplements for refugee populations.
Bachir Saleh National Hospital
An administrative medical center located in Rabouni that houses the pharmaceutical production laboratory.
Carles Codina
A pharmacist whose 1992 visit to a camp dispensary preceded the establishment of the laboratory.
The details
Located at the Bachir Saleh National Hospital in Rabouni, the laboratory functions as a decentralized medical resource. Funding is provided by various municipal entities in Catalonia, Spain, allowing staff to manufacture critical supplies near the point of care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the laboratory adapted its production lines to create hand sanitizer for the camps.
Timeline
1992: Pharmacist Carles Codina visited a camp dispensary.
1996: The pharmaceutical laboratory was inaugurated.
2020: The laboratory began producing hand sanitizer.
May to November 2025: Staff conducted a study on anemia and malnutrition treatments.
Health Landscape
The laboratory operates within the broader context of humanitarian aid efforts designed to address persistent health resource disparities in refugee settlements. It mirrors established patterns of using local medical production to stabilize access to care in remote or underserved areas.
For those managing health in similar humanitarian environments, tracking local supply availability is essential. It is worth discussing with your local health provider or clinic administrator how decentralized facilities can help maintain access to critical medications during shortages.
The takeaway
The facility demonstrates the role of localized production in addressing medical supply gaps for vulnerable populations. Readers should prioritize tracking the availability of essential medications with their healthcare providers when living in areas with supply chain constraints.
Further reading
Learn more about global health initiatives and access to essential supplies in the Nutrition section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EL PAÍS.
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