The Tunisian Syndicate of Pharmacy Owners (SPOT) announced on Friday that it will suspend the third-party payment system with the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) starting November 1, 2026. This decision was made due to the CNAM's failure to respect its contractual commitments and the lack of concrete solutions to ensure the continuity of the service. The SPOT had previously informed the CNAM of its inability to continue operating with this system on October 19.
The SPOT's decision to suspend the third-party payment system was made after its national expanded instance met on October 27 and decided to take this measure. The syndicate had waited until the end of the week, hoping that the situation would improve, but no resolution was reached. According to the SPOT, this measure aims to ensure the continuity of pharmacy services and preserve their ability to supply and guarantee the availability of medications.
The SPOT explained that the crisis is worsening due to the heavy tax pressure on private pharmacy owners, the persistence of ignorance of the profession's fundamental issues, and the non-respect of the laws governing it. The syndicate also expressed regret over the potential disruptions this situation may cause in accessing health services. The SPOT has sent a letter to the CNAM to coordinate the processing of its members' files and facilitate their access to medications.
The SPOT emphasized that it had informed the CNAM and other concerned structures of its inability to continue operating with the third-party payment system due to the non-respect of contractual commitments and the regularization of outstanding sums. The syndicate is concerned about the impact of this situation on the availability of medications and the accessibility of health services.
The decision to suspend the third-party payment system comes as the SPOT seeks to ensure the sustainability of pharmacy services. The syndicate is working to find solutions to the crisis and ensure that its members can continue to provide essential services to patients. The situation remains uncertain, with the SPOT awaiting a response from the CNAM.
The CNAM's failure to pay outstanding dues to pharmacists has created a significant burden on the sector. Private pharmacy owners are struggling to maintain their operations due to the financial strain. The SPOT is seeking a resolution to this crisis to prevent further disruptions to health services.
The SPOT will provide official information as it becomes available. The syndicate remains committed to finding a solution to the crisis and ensuring that its members can continue to provide essential health services to patients. The situation will continue to be monitored for further developments.
Key points
- The Tunisian Syndicate of Pharmacy Owners (SPOT) has announced the suspension of the third-party payment system with the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) from November 1, 2026.
- The decision was made due to the CNAM's failure to respect its contractual commitments and the lack of concrete solutions to ensure the continuity of the service.
- The suspension may cause disruptions in access to health services and the availability of medications.
