–What are the achievements in the health sector? Have we asked all the questions for the health sector to revitalize? What do we really need?
It must be said that health is a right for every human being. Moreover, it is a fundamental right recognized by several international legal instruments ratified by Tunisia, including in particular article 38 of the constitution.
In addition, in recent years, Tunisia has made great medical advances. And this via the quality of the training and the professionalism of the Tunisian medical and paramedical staff remain unshakable. This explains, among other things, why Tunisia is one of the preferred destinations for medical tourism.
But since the pandemic, the health system in Tunisia has not yet recovered from the aftermath of the five successive waves that have strained all stakeholders in the sector.
970 doctors left Tunisia
Furthermore, it should be recalled that the pandemic has laid bare the failings of the health sector. This requires awareness in order to intervene urgently to save hospitals and improve the working conditions of doctors and nursing staff.
That said, there is an observation observed for a few years is the brain drain of young doctors where hundreds of our young doctors have chosen to leave Tunisia, leaving behind them a medical “desert” that is difficult to “reforest”. And this lack of financial means, human resources, but especially career opportunities in Tunisia.
In 2021 alone, 970 doctors left Tunisia. Thus, this testifies to the professional and scientific quality of doctors in high demand in France, Germany, Canada, and all over the world.
Of course, great efforts were being made. And this to upgrade the health sector. Still, it is difficult to perceive this change.
One thing is certain is that the problems are piling up and the budget of the Ministry of Health is shrinking as public hospitals become overloaded and private clinics continue to skyrocket.
The problem of drug shortages under discussion!
If the results of the private sector are more and more pleasing, the problem of the shortage of medicines in hospitals and community pharmacies, the specter of the bankruptcy of the central pharmacy and the eternal crisis of the social funds and particularly of the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM), and so many other alarming data bring us back to the deplorable reality, to the hassle that the citizen experiences and the fierce battles that he leads to survive, in a State constitutionally guarantor “of the safety and quality of health services”, and therefore citizens’ access to medicines.
So what about the drug shortage in Tunisia? What measures to take and reforms to undertake to overcome the difficulties that the Central Pharmacy of Tunisia is going through before it takes its last breath? How to get out of this negative spiral of corruption and drug trafficking? And would it be possible one day to put an end to the distress and the ordeals experienced by the affiliates of the CNAM ?
But today’s big question is how to guarantee Tunisians access to affordable quality care? Where does the Patients’ Rights and Medical Liability Bill stand after Parliament’s activity freeze?
All these questions and others will be discussed throughout this day of 06/09/2022, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with representatives of the health sector in Tunisia, state representatives and experts. Because today’s interest is to identify the future challenges of the health sector.
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