Tunisian Private Pharmacies Syndicate Calls for Continued Third-Party Payment System
The Tunisian syndicate of private pharmacies issued a statement on Tuesday evening, urging all pharmacists and social security beneficiaries affiliated with the "family doctor" system to purchase medications for common illnesses from pharmacies and benefit from reimbursement of medication costs in accordance with the procedures in force at the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM). This comes after a statement issued by the CNAM on Tuesday afternoon.
CNAM Statement
In its statement, the CNAM announced, on an exceptional basis, the possibility for private healthcare system affiliates to benefit from reimbursement of medication acquisition costs for common illnesses, according to usual procedures. The CNAM also indicated the maintenance of the third-party payment system directly with pharmacies that do not respect the syndicate's decision dated October 25, which provided for the non-renewal of the third-party payment agreement for 2026 in its current form with the Fund, and the suspension of this system for common illnesses starting from October 27. The CNAM considered this decision unilateral and non-compliant with procedures, legal deadlines, and contractual stipulations in the sectoral agreement.
Syndicate's Response
In its statement on Tuesday evening, the Syndicate called for the continuation of the third-party payment system and reimbursement of medication costs for common illnesses, pending the settlement of existing problems through legal and institutional channels. The Syndicate emphasized that Tunisian pharmacists have fully assumed their national and professional duties over the past years, bearing alone the consequences of the Fund's shortcomings, in order not to harm citizens' rights to access medication.
Background
The Tunisian syndicate of private pharmacies had decided, following its extraordinary general assembly held on October 25, not to renew the third-party payment agreement for the year 2026 in its current form with the CNAM, and to suspend the third-party payment system for common illnesses starting from Monday, October 27. This decision was made due to the persistence of attacks on the foundations of the current agreement, the new impasse in discussions on the application of the conclusions of the last meeting between the National Bureau and the various stakeholders, and the continued non-compliance with the clauses of the agreement concluded between the two parties, according to the Syndicate's statement.
