Tunisian Pharmacists' Union Suspends Third-Party Payment System for Ordinary Illnesses
The Tunisian Pharmacists' Union decision to suspend the third-party payment system for ordinary illnesses comes into effect as of Monday, October 27, 2025. This measure is taken due to the non-renewal of the current agreement with the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) for the year 2026.
The vice-president of the union, Molka Elmoudir, stated on Jawhara FM that the union has always acted responsibly since its creation, emphasizing that the decision was dictated by the CNAM's recurrent delays in paying the debts owed to pharmacies. Elmoudir described the financial situation of private pharmacies as critical, affirming that the payment delays have caused a severe liquidity crisis, placing several pharmacies on the brink of bankruptcy, a first in the history of the sector, according to her statements.
What is the Third-Party Payment System?
The third-party payment system is a mechanism that allows patients to obtain their medications from pharmacies without paying the full amount. The CNAM directly covers all or part of the cost, while the patient only pays the remaining balance.
New Procedure
From now on, this system will no longer be applied to ordinary illnesses (such as colds, allergies, or benign infections). Patients will have to pay for their medications in full at the time of purchase, before being able to request a partial refund from the CNAM, in accordance with the usual procedures.
