Tunisia is grappling with a severe shortage of medicines, particularly treatments for thyroid disorders, certain types of diabetes, cancer and epilepsy.
According to the vice-president of the Union of Private Pharmacy Owners, Molka Al Moudir, “90% of these medicines have no substitutes available on the Tunisian market,” raising deep concern among healthcare professionals.
Speaking on Jawhara FM radio, Al Moudir stressed that the crisis has persisted for years, driven by import disruptions, shortages of raw materials, delayed payments by the Central Pharmacy due to the financial difficulties of social security funds, and the withdrawal of several international laboratories favoring other markets.
She called for a national early-warning system to notify the National Medicines Agency of any supply disruptions, and for the involvement of pharmacists and medical specialists in a pharmaceutical vigilance committee. Strengthening domestic production, particularly generics, is deemed crucial to reduce external dependence and secure national supply.
Al Moudir also urged more rational prescribing practices, with doctors favouring scientific names of molecules over brand names to facilitate the use of locally produced equivalents. She warned that the situation is especially critical for thyroid patients deprived of essential treatment.
This latest alert underscores the structural fragility of Tunisia’s pharmaceutical sector, already strained by economic hardship and the chronic indebtedness of public health institutions.
MK/ac/lb/as/APA