Healthcare in Tunisia prioritizes efficiency and transparency. To meet the evolving needs of its population and enhance service delivery, the country has fully embraced digital transformation within the healthcare sector.

Tunisian Health Minister Mustapha Ferjani (photo, right) on Wednesday inaugurated a digital platform for managing medicines and health products, a significant step in the country's pharmaceutical sector digital transformation.

Developed by the National Agency for Medicines and Health Products (ANMPS), the platform aims to streamline administrative processes, particularly for issuing marketing authorizations (AMMs) and promotional licenses. It will also improve medicine traceability and provide citizens with online access to administrative services.

“This initiative will enable Tunisia to join the ranks of developed countries that rely on the pharmaceutical industry and the export of medicines,” stated Ferjani. He also highlighted that this innovation will help improve Tunisia’s ranking in global health standards by targeting the GBT3 level established by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The digital platform is designed to simplify and accelerate administrative processes, particularly for issuing marketing authorizations (AMMs) for medicines and promotional licenses. It will also enhance the traceability of medicines while making administrative services accessible online to citizens.

The project, carried out by a team of over 100 Tunisian experts with support from the United States, is part of a broader digitization program aimed at modernizing several strategic sectors in Tunisia. These efforts have already elevated Tunisia to the top spot in North Africa and third place on the continent for e-government, according to the UN’s “E-Government Survey 2024: Accelerating Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development.” With an online service development index of 0.6935 out of 1, Tunisia significantly surpasses the African average of 0.4247.

In addition to modernizing pharmaceutical administration, this initiative aims to enhance transparency, attract investment, and improve interconnectivity between government departments. With this advancement, Tunisia reaffirms its role as a regional leader in digital transformation, strengthens its healthcare sovereignty, and aligns with global best practices.

By Samira Njoya,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji