Tunisian Association of Celiac Disease Demands Full Coverage and Increased Funding for Patients

The President of the Tunisian Association of Celiac Disease (ATMC), Mongi Ben Hariz, reiterated his call on Saturday for the inclusion of celiac disease in the list of fully covered conditions (APCI) by the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) and the implementation of a monthly allocation of 130 dinars (currently 30 dinars) for patients benefiting from the Amen Social program.

During a sensitization day organized in Tunis, Ben Hariz explained that patients with celiac disease face three main difficulties: lack of training and support, limited availability of gluten-free food products, and high costs of these products. He added that the production of gluten-free flour, obtained from rice or other substitutes, requires specific expertise. In this context, the association works to train and guide patients through the organization of approximately 600 training sessions in different regions of the country, as well as the dissemination of explanatory videos on the preparation of gluten-free bread and pastries.

"However, gluten-free products remain scarce, particularly in the interior regions of the country, which forces patients to travel over 40 kilometers to obtain them, despite their limited financial capabilities," he said.

In this context, Ben Hariz announced that the association has contributed to the creation of three specialized bakeries in Tunis, Sidi Bouzid, and Djerba, which produce gluten-free bread and pastries.

To facilitate access to these foods, the association has launched a 10-year program called "Gluten-Free Network," which aims to encourage the unemployed to create projects specialized in the production of gluten-free foods. This initiative allows them to have a source of income while meeting the needs of people with celiac disease. The first experience in Sidi Bouzid was successful after a family was able to create a specialized bakery with the support of the association, which provided the necessary equipment.

To reduce the cost of gluten-free products, Mongi Ben Hariz stated that the association distributes free packages to poor families in collaboration with the Tunisian Post Office, which delivers them free of charge to different regions of the country. The association is currently helping around 500 families, while the number of requests exceeds 5,000 families.

Celiac disease is a hereditary disease characterized by permanent intolerance to gluten present in several cereals, including wheat, barley, and rye. The only effective treatment consists of following a lifelong gluten-free diet.

The main symptoms include chronic diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain and bloating, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, weight loss, anemia, joint pain, and osteoporosis. In children, the disease can also cause growth retardation.

According to the latest statistics from the association, the number of people with celiac disease in Tunisia approaches 100,000 cases, while only 30,000 patients have been diagnosed.