Tunisia's Director General of Health, Walid Neejja, has emphasized the importance of digital transformation in the country's health sector. He stated that the adoption of advanced technologies in healthcare is not just a technical option, but a crucial lever for developing the healthcare system and improving services provided to citizens. This transformation aims to modernize the healthcare system, making it more efficient, equitable, and responsive to new challenges.
The digital transformation in Tunisia's health sector is not limited to digitizing procedures and services, but rather a human-centered approach that prioritizes citizens' needs, maintains service quality, and enhances the integration of various components of the healthcare system. This approach is aligned with the National Health Strategy 2025-2034, which aims to build a more resilient, efficient, and equitable healthcare system. The strategy focuses on improving service quality, developing infrastructure, and promoting technology and innovation.
Tunisia has made significant progress in healthcare and digital transformation, which presents an opportunity to enhance the reform of the healthcare system. The country's strategic location, coupled with its human, medical, and technological capabilities, enable it to play a vital role in Africa, particularly in healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. The digital transformation in the health sector is expected to improve service quality, increase access to healthcare, and enhance the overall efficiency of the healthcare system.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of technology, communication, and digital health systems in ensuring the continuity of healthcare services. The pandemic has also underscored the need for healthcare systems that can respond to crises in various circumstances. The lessons learned from the pandemic emphasize the importance of investing in technology, digital transformation, and cooperation among countries and institutions to support the ability of healthcare systems to face future challenges.
Tunisia has launched the "National Health Pact," which aims to achieve universal health coverage. The pact considers digital transformation a crucial lever for accelerating the implementation of the right to health, as enshrined in the 2022 Constitution. The pact focuses on six areas, including ensuring equitable digital access to healthcare services, continuity of healthcare pathways, and the development of a sovereign and secure governance framework for health data.
The "National Health Pact" has several key components, including the development of digital skills, research, and innovation, as well as the modernization of infrastructure and digital platforms. The pact also aims to secure the supply chain of medicines. Tunisia has already made progress in this area, with the launch of the "EVAX" national vaccination platform, which has connected nearly 2,000 centers and tracked 13 million doses.
The Ministry of Health has called on all stakeholders in the public and private sectors, healthcare professionals, and international partners to unite their efforts to support this digital transformation and achieve its objectives. The pact is expected to be signed on October 1, 2026, and Tunisia's commitments will be presented at the Universal Health Coverage Summit in Tokyo in December 2026. The World Bank and the World Health Organization have expressed their support for the pact.
Key points
- The digital transformation of Tunisia's health sector aims to improve service quality, increase access to healthcare, and enhance the overall efficiency of the healthcare system.
- The "National Health Pact" focuses on six areas, including ensuring equitable digital access to healthcare services and the development of a sovereign and secure governance framework for health data.
- Tunisia's digital transformation in the health sector is aligned with the National Health Strategy 2025-2034, which aims to build a more resilient, efficient, and equitable healthcare system.
