Tunisian Speech‑Therapists Face a Severe Financial Crisis
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The president of the National Trade Union of Speech‑Therapists, Samia Chaabane, warned on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, about the grave financial crisis hitting the sector. According to her, a set of regulations that does not match the realities of private‑practice professionals has led to the closure of about 15 offices in 2025, with five more shutting down since the beginning of the year.
In a statement to the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) agency, Samia Chaabane specified that the number of speech‑therapy offices in Tunisia ranges between 300 and 325. She emphasized that many practitioners are threatened with closure because of financial difficulties or the lure of emigration to improve their living conditions.
The current regulatory framework is deemed “unfair.” High rents for premises weigh heavily on the profitability of the offices, while the prohibition on sharing premises with other medical or paramedical specialties limits practice opportunities. The mandatory requirement to obtain a Civil Protection conformity certificate is also criticised. According to the president, this requirement has forced many speech‑therapists to work without a professional licence, because suitable premises that meet the standards are unavailable.
Since 2019, the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) has required this certificate for updating specialists’ files. Ms. Chaabane also lamented that the fee schedule negotiated with CNAM has not been revised since 1988, worsening the financial precariousness of practitioners.
The profession faces additional threats. Unqualified individuals entering the field pose a danger to patients. The lack of regulation underscores the urgent need for:
- a revision of the regulatory framework,
- better organisation of construction standards, and
- stronger control of the informal sector.
The president also calls for a review of the annual commercial‑rent increase rate to safeguard the future of speech‑therapy offices.
