Tunisia's Minister of Health Announces Finalization of Medical City Project in Kairouan
Tunisia's Minister of Health, Mustapha Ferjani, announced on Wednesday that the technical and financial studies necessary for the establishment of the Aghlabides Medical City in Kairouan are nearing completion. This large-scale project, estimated to cost 3 billion dinars, is expected to generate around 200,000 jobs, according to a statement from the Parliament.
Project Overview
During a hearing session of the Finance and Budget Committee, dedicated to examining two loan agreement projects between Tunisia and the French Development Agency (AFD) for the financing of health programs, Ferjani specified that the Medical City will be implemented in accordance with a memorandum of understanding signed between Tunisia and China in February 2025. This project aims to support regional development, strengthen investment in the central regions of the country, and transform Kairouan into an integrated health and economic hub.
Medical City Infrastructure
The Medical City will be built on a 553-hectare state-owned land in Menzel Mehiri (Kairouan Governorate). It will include:
- A hospital complex with 14 care centers
- A multidisciplinary military clinic
- Several private medical centers
- A university complex with a military medical academy, a higher institute of medical sciences, a national school of biotechnological engineering, a simulation center, and an air medical evacuation unit
- An industrial pole dedicated to the health sector on 20 hectares
- A tourist, cultural, recreational, and sports area
- A residential area of 50 hectares with 100 villas and 1,000 apartments
- A public services area of 42 hectares with schools, institutes, banks, administrative and security establishments
Economic Benefits and Investment
Ferjani emphasized that the Aghlabides Medical City will be a growth lever for the central region and a model of public-private investment, partially financed by donations and mostly by foreign investments.
Approval of Loan Agreements
The Finance and Budget Committee approved two draft laws related to the modification of loan agreements with the AFD. The first concerns the amendment of the 2019 agreement on the modernization of health services in Sidi Bouzid, while the second relates to the amendment of the program to support electronic health. These amendments aim to extend the execution deadlines and revise certain financial conditions.
Health System Reform
The Minister of Health specified that these two programs are pillars of the health system reform, in line with the orientations of the Presidency of the Republic. The first project aims to modernize the regional hospital in Sidi Bouzid, rehabilitate public health structures, and strengthen local governance. The second project focuses on establishing a national health information system to improve the quality of care and hospital management.
Modernization Project in Sidi Bouzid
Ferjani recalled the delays in the project, due to the complexity of the tender procedures, new technical requirements introduced by the funders, and the interruption of activities during the Covid-19 pandemic. The project includes the construction of a university hospital in Sidi Bouzid with an initial capacity of 427 beds, extendable to 455 beds.
Electronic Health Program
The Minister indicated that Tunisia has entered an advanced phase of digitization of medical services, including telemedicine and interconnection of hospitals. He stressed the need to ensure the security of personal data and strengthen the digital infrastructure with the support of financial partners and telecom operators.
National Digital Sovereignty
Ferjani highlighted the objective of building national digital sovereignty in the fields of health, artificial intelligence, and telemedicine to ensure the country's technological independence. He recalled that Tunisia is currently the only African nation with a fully digital hospital.
Call for Revision of Public Procurement System
The Minister called for a revision of the public procurement system to allow for faster execution of projects and avoid bureaucratic blockages.
Parliamentary Reaction
Deputies welcomed the efforts to strengthen health infrastructure through external financing, while recalling that access to health is a constitutional right. However, they denounced the brain drain of medical competencies, the lack of personnel in certain specialties, the deterioration of hospital equipment, and the significant regional disparities between coastal and interior areas.
Recommendations
Deputies called on the government to:
- Accelerate the realization of blocked projects
- Simplify administrative procedures
- Improve financial management and human resources
- Create new university and hospital establishments in disadvantaged regions to reduce pressure on major hospital centers and ensure equal access to care throughout the country
They also urged the government to reevaluate development priorities, stimulate productive investment, and reduce excessive dependence on external loans, deemed too burdensome for public finances.
