Tunisian Pharmacies on the Brink of Crisis
Emna Abbas, Deputy Secretary General of the Tunisian Syndicate of Private Pharmacy Owners, revealed that over 90% of pharmacies can no longer cope with the delay in the payment of their financial claims owed by the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM).
Abbas explained, in a statement on Diwan FM, that contractual deadlines stipulate the payment of pharmacy claims within a maximum of 14 days, but the CNAM's delay has reached 180 days. She also noted the absence of a clear payment schedule. Emna Abbas stated that pharmacies will suspend work under the third-party payment system for ordinary illnesses, but will continue to dispense medication for chronic diseases until the issue with the CNAM is resolved.
It is worth noting that the Tunisian Syndicate of Private Pharmacy Owners has decided not to renew the third-party payment agreement for the year 2026 in its current form with the CNAM, and to suspend work under the third-party payment system for ordinary illnesses starting from Monday, October 27, 2025.
