Health & Education
From The Report: Tunisia 2016
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A national priority since independence, Tunisia’s health care system has been the focus of continued public investment that has seen an extensive network of public hospitals and health centres established nationwide. In recent years, however, the country’s private health care sector has taken the lead in investment, with the construction of new clinics intended to make the country into a regional medical centre. As a whole, Tunisia’s health care system can rely on its solid foundation, blossoming private sector and qualified workforce. However, according to the World Health Organisation, health system reform is needed in order to implement an integrated approach that is focused on primary care, prevention and provision of palliative care in order to better respond to the increase in non-communicative diseases. In addition, the government is focusing on policies aimed at identifying medium- to long-term reform measures that will reduce health inequalities and improve the system’s responses to the evolving demographic and epidemiologic situation. In the aftermath of decolonisation, Tunisia was among the top investors in education in Africa, promoting socio-economic development and boosting human capital, which led to rapid progress in literacy, access to primary education and high enrolment figures. Today, the authorities are focusing on overhauling the educational and vocational training system, as well as bolstering private education, as a means to uplift educational standards and cut the rising unemployment rate among young graduates. Although Tunisia has continued to prioritise investment in education, it has paid too little attention to the requirements of the labour market. This has led to a mismatch between qualifications and the needs of the employment market. The authorities will have to continue overhauling Tunisia’s higher education system by providing improved career guidance and ensuring better employability for new graduates. This chapter contains interviews with Saïd Aïdi, Minister of Health; and Chiheb Bouden, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Annual check-up: With a solid foundation, the sector is ready for an overhaul
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A national priority since independence, Tunisia’s health care system has been the focus of continued public investment that has seen an extensive network of public hospitals and health centres established nationwide. In recent years, however, the country’s private health care sector has taken the lead in investment, with the construction of new clinics intended to make the country into a regional medical centre. History The development of Tunisia’s health care system has been through several…

Analysis

In good shape: The local pharmaceutical industry is looking to export more
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Over the past decade, the Tunisian pharmaceutical sector has experienced steady double-digit growth at between 10% and 15% a year as a result of increased domestic demand for drugs, emerging export markets and the implementation of a favourable business environment. As a whole, the Tunisian drug sector generated $745m in 2015, with local private production accounting for 60% of the domestic market’s needs in terms of volume and 47% in terms of value, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Structure Tunisia…

Interview

Pillars of strength: OBG talks to Saïd Aïdi, Minister of Health
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Interview:Saïd Aïdi Which strategies have to be implemented in order to improve the medical coverage in Tunisia? SAID AIDI: In Tunisia, there have been many achievements in terms of public health, but there are still major challenges. This is due, in part, to a result of demographic and sociological changes, which are contributing to the growth of non-communicable diseases. To meet this new demand, the health care system needs to be modernised with a strategy based on five pillars. The…

Overview

Covering new ground: The private sector is creating more opportunities for investors
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In the aftermath of decolonisation, Tunisia was among the top investors in education in Africa, promoting socio-economic development and boosting human capital, which led to rapid progress in literacy, access to primary education and high enrolment figures. Today, the authorities are focusing on overhauling the educational and vocational training system, as well as bolstering private education, as a means to uplift educational standards and cut the rising unemployment rate among young graduates. Academic…

Interview

Making the grade: OBG talks to Chiheb Bouden, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
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Interview:Chiheb Bouden How is the role of private universities evolving? CHIHEB BOUDEN: Private universities are fairly new in Tunisia, as they were only authorised by law starting in 2000. However, since then we have seen a drastic increase in the number of private institutions to roughly 63. The calibre of these varies noticeably. Some of them have achieved a great deal in terms of self-sufficiency and teaching quality, but others require support from the government to upgrade their operations,…

Analysis

Filling in the blanks: A focus on better preparing graduates for the workplace
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As the country grapples with high unemployment rates among graduates, the government is looking to reform Tunisia’s higher education system to improve standards and ties with private businesses. Tunisia recently rolled out a 10-year educational development plan known as the Strategic Plan for the Reform of Higher Education and Scientific Research 2015-25. The plan is based on five main objectives: improving the quality of teaching and thus the employability of new graduates; promoting research…