Tunisia has taken a significant step towards achieving universal healthcare coverage with the signing of a National Health Charter. The charter, signed by Minister of Health Mustapha Ferjani and Minister of Communication Technologies Sofiene Hemissi, aims to leverage digital transformation to improve healthcare access, particularly in rural areas. The signing ceremony took place on October 3, 2026, in Tunis, in the presence of international organization representatives and healthcare sector partners.
The National Health Charter is a key component of Tunisia's strategy to implement the right to healthcare, as enshrined in the 2022 Constitution. The charter focuses on six main areas: equitable access to digital health services, continuity of care, secure and sovereign governance of health data, modernization of infrastructure and digital platforms, development of research and skills, and enhanced security of the pharmaceutical supply chain. These areas are designed to support the country's goal of achieving universal healthcare coverage.
Minister Ferjani emphasized that the charter's primary objective is to enable citizens in remote areas to access specialized medical care through telemedicine and digital tools, reducing costs and travel to major hospitals. He cited the success of the Evax vaccine platform, which has connected approximately 2,000 centers and tracked 13 million doses. The ministry is also deploying a unique health identifier, electronic medical records, and telemedicine services nationwide.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank are supporting Tunisia's efforts to achieve universal healthcare coverage. The WHO is working with Tunisia to strengthen health information systems and deploy integrated digital platforms to improve access, equity, and quality of care. Ferjani announced that a new meeting on Tunisia's roadmap to universal healthcare coverage will take place in December in Japan, in collaboration with the WHO, Japan, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The National Health Charter is a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond digitizing administrative procedures, aiming to reorganize the healthcare system fundamentally. The charter's success will be evaluated based on its ability to improve access, continuity, and quality of care. The commitments outlined in the charter will be presented at the Universal Health Coverage Summit in Tokyo in December.
The conference "Telehealth Connect 2026," held in Tunis from September 29 to October 1, 2026, provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the role of digital health in achieving universal healthcare coverage. The charter's development was influenced by the conference's outcomes and recommendations. Tunisia's efforts to leverage technology to improve healthcare access and quality are seen as a model for other countries in the region.
The implementation of the National Health Charter is expected to have a significant impact on Tunisia's healthcare system, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare services is limited. The charter's focus on digital transformation and telemedicine is expected to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare disparities, and enhance the overall quality of care. The WHO and other international partners will continue to support Tunisia's efforts to achieve universal healthcare coverage.
Key points
- The National Health Charter aims to improve healthcare access and quality in Tunisia through digital transformation and telemedicine.
- The charter focuses on six main areas, including equitable access to digital health services and secure governance of health data.
- The WHO and World Bank are supporting Tunisia's efforts to achieve universal healthcare coverage.
