Tunisian Health Minister Unveils National Eye‑Care Strategy
Tunis, 9 March 2026 – The Minister of Health, Mustapha Ferjani, chaired a working session on Monday at the Ministry’s headquarters to outline the main pillars of a national strategy for eye health. The meeting was attended by the President of the Tunisian Ophthalmology Association and members of its executive board.
Key Operational Axes Discussed
| Area | Initiatives |
|---|---|
| Digital transformation in ophthalmology | • Implementation of an electronic medical record (EMR) system for eye‑care. • Expansion of tele‑medicine services to enable early screening, especially in interior regions. |
| Retinal imaging & AI | • Deployment of advanced retinal imaging devices. • Integration of these devices with the digital hospital project. • Use of artificial intelligence to improve detection of diabetic retinopathy. |
| Ambulatory eye surgery | • Development of out‑patient ophthalmic surgery to cut waiting times and raise care quality. • Strengthening corneal‑transplant programs in partnership with the National Center for Organ Transplant Promotion (CNPTO). |
| Training & simulation | • Introduction of next‑generation surgical simulators for young ophthalmologists. • Enhanced training curricula to keep pace with digital and AI tools. |
| Prevention & outreach | • Launch of mobile clinics and national early‑screening campaigns targeting diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and pediatric visual disorders. • Broader public‑health messaging to raise awareness of eye‑health risks. |
Minister Ferjani’s Remarks
During the session, Minister Ferjani emphasized that integrating ophthalmology into the digital hospital framework will:
- Boost diagnostic accuracy through real‑time data sharing and AI‑assisted analysis.
- Optimize patient management by linking primary, secondary, and tertiary eye‑care services.
- Bring health services closer to citizens across the entire national territory, reducing geographic disparities.
The minister concluded that the coordinated effort—combining technology, training, and preventive outreach—will lay the foundation for a more accessible, efficient, and high‑quality eye‑care system in Tunisia.
Keywords: Tunisia, health ministry, eye health strategy, digital ophthalmology, electronic medical records, telemedicine, retinal imaging, artificial intelligence, diabetic retinopathy, ambulatory surgery, corneal transplant, medical simulation, mobile clinics, preventive eye care.
