Tunisian Parliament Examines Shortcomings of Healthcare System
The members of the People's Representatives Assembly and the National Council of Regions and Districts thoroughly examined the shortcomings of the Tunisian healthcare system, which prevents comprehensive coverage of the country and decent access to healthcare across regions, during a joint plenary session held yesterday at the Bardo hemicycle, as part of the budget debates for 2026.
Tragedy at Jendouba Regional Hospital
A tragedy occurred at the Jendouba Regional Hospital, where a pregnant woman admitted to the emergency room lost her life before giving birth, leaving a newborn girl orphaned and a sense of bitterness in the region, which has not yet forgotten the tragic death of a doctor in a broken elevator in the same hospital a few years ago. The hospital has been dubbed an "abattoir" due to the fear of accessing it, which has marked the inhabitants who do not have many options to seek medical care elsewhere due to lack of means.
Illustration of Healthcare System's "Pathologies"
This illustration was presented by Deputy Alaa Maghzaoui during the general debate on "the health mission," acknowledging that "we are in 2025, in a country of health miracles." This illustration is a sample of an array of "pathologies" accumulated over the years, particularly during the "dark decade," according to some regional representatives. The healthcare sector, which was once a source of pride for Tunisians, has suffered significant degradation in recent years.
Main Shortcomings of the Healthcare System
The main shortcomings of the healthcare system highlighted by the speakers include:
- Lack of medical and paramedical staff
- Lack of equipment and infrastructure
- Lack of medication and resources
Appreciation for the Ministry of Health's Efforts
The speakers praised the "remarkable work" done by the Ministry of Health under the direction of the current minister, Moustapha Ferjani, who was present and attentive to the debates. Deputy Mohamed Ben Réjeb noted that "the budget of the ministry is practically the same from one year to another, but we notice the difference from one minister to another."
Call to Increase the Ministry's Budget
Deputy Néji Ben Kilani appreciated the "qualitative leap" in the ministry's strategy to redraw the healthcare map without multiplying resources, calling for a significant increase in the ministry's budget, considering it a "pillar of the social and solidarity state."
Digitalization of Healthcare Services
The implementation of the "digital hospital" was also appreciated, which connects more than 30 hospitals and allows for remote interventions, including analyzing imaging results installed in several regions, but without a competent medical framework on site to read and analyze the results. This solution was set up during the Covid crisis when travel was almost impossible, but it has been maintained and supported as it allows for resolving the shortage of specialized doctors in regions and avoiding patient travel.
Need for Further Digitalization
According to the reports of the committees that examined the health budget, this trend towards digitalization should continue, accelerate, and expand to include, among other things, appointments that can take several months in certain specialties, such as radiotherapy. This phenomenon is very common in specialized medicine.
Current State of Healthcare in Tunisia
Today, many Tunisians travel tens of kilometers to access healthcare, while others, even if they find a doctor, do not find medication in the hospital pharmacy. Some patients, such as those with a "white card," give up treatment. This results in overcrowding in large hospitals and university hospitals, which are often called upon to work beyond their capacity and accommodate many more patients than expected when they were created.
Call for Expansion of Healthcare Services
Several deputies called for the expansion of hospital institutions, the construction of new units, and the provision of healthcare services to remote regions. The debates also raised the issue of brain drain and the need to establish a strategy to retain and attract medical professionals to work in "interior regions."
Proposal for a "First Line of Defense"
In a constructive spirit, Deputy Messaoud Grira called for the establishment of a "first line of defense" in coordination with other ministries involved in food production, for example, to reduce the salt content of certain preserves, which would help reduce hypertension and diabetes in the long term, considering the quality of flour used in mass consumption. Grira also proposed making health a source of foreign exchange, given the visitors who come to Tunisia for medical treatment but end up choosing other destinations with faster and more effective healthcare services.
Ministry's Plans for 2026
The ministry, aware of these shortcomings and the degree of suffering of citizens, has planned for 2026:
- Recruitment of 4,000 jobs
- Regularization of 4,400 cadres
- Opening of 100 positions, particularly in emergency services
Budget Allocation
According to the figures communicated during the committee debates, the budget of the Ministry of Health amounts to 4,350 million dinars, compared to 4,000 million dinars in 2025, an increase of 8.8%. No less than 2,861 million dinars will be allocated to salaries, while the investment envelope amounts to 780 million dinars, including the construction of new hospitals, the expansion of others, and the acquisition of new equipment.
Promotion of Medical Tourism
The ministry plans to continue promoting medical tourism in 2026 to make the sector an economic development vector, offering new employment prospects for medical professionals who are highly sought after abroad.
