Tunisia has achieved considerable progress in the healthcare sector over the past few years, according to Rana Taha, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Tunisia. She noted that the country's accomplishments in healthcare provide a solid foundation for continued investment in the sector and enhancement of the healthcare system's capabilities. These achievements include the introduction of new programs and vaccines, strengthening of disease surveillance and control systems, and obtaining certification for eliminating a major public health problem.
Rana Taha made these remarks during the International Conference on Digital Health, "Telehealth Connect 2026," which concluded on Thursday. She emphasized that Tunisia's progress in improving population health is a result of its commitment to developing its healthcare system. The country has completed an evaluation of its basic healthcare programs, providing a solid foundation for further investment and development. This progress reflects a clear commitment to improving population health and enhancing the healthcare system's ability to respond to challenges.
Digital transformation can support this progress, but it must be part of a comprehensive and integrated healthcare system reform. Rana Taha noted that several countries have invested in separate digital solutions that have not achieved the desired results because they were not linked to a broader healthcare reform agenda. She stressed that social justice must be at the forefront of digital transformation to prevent unequal access to technology from exacerbating health disparities.
Tunisia is moving towards a comprehensive approach to digital health transformation, incorporating telemedicine, electronic health records, data governance, artificial intelligence, and digital health. Rana Taha emphasized the importance of continuing to work on universalizing consultation and telemedicine services at the national level and leveraging existing agreements and experiences. Developing shared health records can improve care continuity and coordination.
Technology offers opportunities to improve healthcare services, exchange information, support healthcare workers, and accelerate responses to health challenges. However, technology alone does not guarantee desired outcomes; its use and deployment to serve patients and the healthcare system are crucial. Rana Taha highlighted the importance of governing health data, ensuring its security and stability, and using artificial intelligence responsibly and ethically.
Digital health transformation relies on human factors, and healthcare workers need the necessary skills to use new digital tools effectively. Continuous training and education are essential for healthcare workers to keep up with rapid developments in artificial intelligence and technology. Investing in human resources is just as important as investing in technology, as digital transformation is driven by people who use digital tools to improve healthcare services.
The ultimate goal of digital transformation is to build a more effective, equitable, and sustainable healthcare system, with patients' needs at the center of the development process. Rana Taha emphasized that digital transformation should focus on improving healthcare services and making the system more responsive to patients' needs.
Key points
- Tunisia has made significant progress in healthcare, including introducing new programs and vaccines and strengthening disease surveillance and control systems.
- Digital transformation can support healthcare progress, but it must be part of a comprehensive and integrated healthcare system reform.
- Investing in human resources is crucial for successful digital health transformation.
