Tunisia’s Health Minister Leads Strategic Session to Boost Domestic Production of Radiopharmaceuticals
Date: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Overview
The Minister of Health, Dr. Mustapha Ferjani, chaired a high‑level strategic meeting with the national company SISORA. The session focused on strengthening Tunisia’s capacity to produce radiopharmaceutical medicines used in nuclear medicine, especially ¹⁸F‑FDG, the tracer essential for advanced PET‑scan imaging in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Key Decisions & Concrete Measures
| Area | Action | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Quality & Safety | • Strict adherence to international quality and safety standards • Reinforced radioprotection and occupational safety protocols |
Higher confidence in product integrity; reduced risk for workers and patients |
| Regulatory & Market Acceleration | • Support for quality‑management systems and analytical labs • Fast‑track approval and market entry for therapeutic batches |
Shorter time‑to‑market for life‑saving drugs |
| Logistics & Distribution | • Upgrade national transport and distribution networks for radiopharmaceuticals | Reliable, timely delivery to hospitals across the country |
| Strategic Reserve | • Development of a reserve production capacity (stockpile) | Guarantees uninterrupted supply during emergencies or demand spikes |
| Global Monitoring | • Ongoing tracking of worldwide advances in diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals | Positions Tunisia as a regional reference hub for nuclear medicine in Africa and the Mediterranean |
Vision for Tunisia
The Ministry emphasized the need to monitor global trends in radiopharmaceuticals to:
- Establish Tunisia as a regional reference center for nuclear medicine, serving both African and Mediterranean markets.
- Improve patient access to cutting‑edge diagnostic and therapeutic services, with a particular focus on the fight against cancer.
Why This Matters
- Cancer care: Faster, locally produced PET‑FDG scans enable earlier detection and more precise treatment planning.
- Economic independence: Reducing reliance on imports strengthens national health security and creates high‑tech jobs.
- Regional leadership: A robust domestic supply chain can attract neighboring countries to source radiopharmaceuticals from Tunisia.
For more updates on Tunisia’s health initiatives and advancements in nuclear medicine, stay tuned to our newsroom.
