The Tunisian National Medical Council has announced its rejection of the electronic invoicing system for the medical sector in its current form. The council emphasized that the practice of medicine is subject to a specific legal and ethical framework that prohibits commercialization and requires absolute protection of professional secrecy and patient data. This announcement was made in a statement released on Saturday.
According to the council, the medical profession was not initially considered to be automatically subject to this procedure when the rules on expanding electronic invoicing to service providers were first issued. However, a general memorandum issued in 2026, which explained the provisions of the Finance Law, extended the scope to include non-commercial professions, despite not being explicitly mentioned in the law.
The Medical Council stated that it had initiated contact with the executive and legislative authorities, holding a series of meetings and consultations, and participating in the review of the legislative framework. These efforts led to a proposal to amend the legal text, which is still awaiting completion. The council emphasized that the medical activity is carried out within a regulated sector subject to multiple control mechanisms and data intersection.
The council highlighted that electronic invoicing cannot be applied to the medical profession without considering its specificities, including fee notes, professional secrecy, and protection of patient data. It also stressed that professional secrecy is a fundamental obligation imposed on every doctor and that updating the tax system should be gradual, clear, and in line with existing laws, without affecting the specificities of the medical profession or patient rights.
The council's statement comes amid ongoing efforts to modernize the tax system in Tunisia. The government has been working to expand the use of electronic invoicing to various sectors, aiming to improve tax compliance and reduce fraud. However, the medical sector has expressed concerns about the potential impact on its operations and the confidentiality of patient data.
The Medical Council's rejection of the electronic invoicing system has sparked a debate about the balance between the need for modernization and the need to protect the specificities of the medical profession. The council's efforts to engage with the authorities and find a solution that takes into account the concerns of the medical sector are ongoing.
The issue is likely to continue to be a topic of discussion in the coming weeks, with the medical sector and the government seeking to find a solution that balances the need for modernization with the need to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the medical profession. The outcome of this debate will have significant implications for the future of the medical sector in Tunisia.
Key points
- The Tunisian National Medical Council has rejected the electronic invoicing system for the medical sector in its current form.
- The council emphasizes that the medical profession is subject to a specific legal and ethical framework that prohibits commercialization and requires absolute protection of professional secrecy and patient data.
- The council is working with the authorities to find a solution that takes into account the concerns of the medical sector.
