Private Pharmacy Owners’ Union Warns of Acute Drug Shortages in Tunisia
Molka Al Moudir, vice‑president of the Syndicat des propriétaires de pharmacies privées, sounded the alarm on Tuesday about a severe shortage affecting several categories of medicines, including those used to treat thyroid disorders, certain forms of diabetes, cancers, and some types of epilepsy. According to her, “90 % of these drugs have no substitute available on the Tunisian market.”
Key Points from the Interview on Jawhara FM
- A long‑standing crisis – Al Moudir emphasized that the shortage “is not new but has persisted for several years.”
- Root causes identified:
- Disruptions in import logistics.
- Scarcity of essential raw materials.
- Delayed payments from the Central Pharmacy due to the financial difficulties of social security funds.
- Withdrawal of international laboratories from the production of certain products or their re‑orientation toward other markets.
Calls to Action
- Early‑warning system – She urged the creation of a rapid‑alert mechanism to inform the National Agency for Medicines of any impending stock‑out risk and to involve all stakeholders—pharmacists, specialist physicians, and the pharmaceutical vigilance committee.
- Strengthen local industry – Al Moudir advocated for bolstering domestic manufacturing and promoting the production of generic drugs to meet national demand.
- Rational prescribing – She recommended that prescribers use the scientific (generic) name of a medication rather than its commercial brand, arguing that this practice would support the local market and expand treatment options for patients.
Impact on Patients
The lack of certain medicines is especially critical for thyroid patients, for whom the shortage creates “particularly serious difficulties.”
Keywords: drug shortage Tunisia, thyroid medication shortage, generic drug production, pharmaceutical early‑warning system, pharmacy union, Molka Al Moudir, health policy Tunisia.
