The International Conference on Digital Health "Telehealth Connect 2026" kicked off in Tunisia on September 29, 2026. The three-day conference brings together experts and representatives from nearly 35 countries and international organizations from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the United States. The event aims to explore ways to develop digital health and telemedicine, expanding access to healthcare services.
The conference discusses the role of digitalization in bringing healthcare services closer to remote areas, improving diagnosis and monitoring, and addressing challenges related to personal data protection, artificial intelligence governance, and cybersecurity. Participants also exchange experiences and identify regional cooperation projects in digital health.
Tunisian Health Minister, Mustafa Al-Ferjani, stated that digitalization is a crucial tool for achieving health equity and access to specialized medicine. He announced that the conference will conclude with a declaration of major principles in digital health, focusing on achieving equitable access to healthcare services, protecting personal data, and promoting cybersecurity and data sovereignty.
The upcoming declaration, titled "Tunis Declaration for a Fair, Safe, and Humane Digital Health Transformation," is based on principles that include trust between medical professionals and patients, equitable access to healthcare services, respect for and protection of personal data, and cybersecurity and health data sovereignty. The declaration also emphasizes self-reliance in developing artificial intelligence with Tunisian expertise.
Minister Al-Ferjani presented Tunisia's experience in digital hospitals, highlighting that over 32 hospitals have been equipped with remote medical imaging devices operating around the clock. This has enabled the completion of over 120,000 radiology exams since the digital hospital began operating. He also mentioned the development of remote clinic services and screening using mammography.
Dr. Habiba Al-Mizouni, a radiology specialist with the digital hospital team, noted that the international conference in Tunisia reflects efforts to digitalize the healthcare sector and improve services. She added that the medical imaging department covers the needs of regions regarding radiology and magnetic resonance imaging exams.
The conference also heard from Muhammad bin Omar, Director-General of the Arab Organization for Communication and Information Technologies, who emphasized the need to transition digital health from separate initiatives to a sustainable and scalable regional system. He stressed the importance of protecting data, promoting cybersecurity, and governing the use of artificial intelligence.
Key points
- The conference aims to develop digital health and telemedicine services.
- Tunisia is working on projects to improve healthcare services through digitalization.
- The conference concluded with a declaration emphasizing the importance of equitable access to healthcare services and data protection.
