The Ministry of Health announced a series of urgent measures aimed at strengthening medicine stockpiles and improving the capacity of health facilities to meet the therapeutic needs of citizens, in a context marked by tensions in the supply of certain medicines.
Among these measures is the allocation of an additional annual financial envelope of 15 million dinars in favor of regional health structures. The ministry emphasizes that ensuring a continuous supply of medicines, especially essential ones, is an absolute priority to guarantee the right to health and the continuity of treatments for patients.
Information systems to better monitor stock
According to the ministry’s response to a written question from Deputy Mariem Cherif, addressed to the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, concerning drug shortages in Tunisia, several measures focus on modernizing stock management mechanisms.
The ministry plans, in particular, to develop information systems that allow real-time tracking of medicine movements as well as changes in their consumption. The objective is to improve stock management and rationalize consumption.
It is also planned to generalize the use of the “e-pharmacy” system, which should enable more precise stock tracking and better anticipation of needs.
Measures to strengthen the financial position of the Central Pharmacy
The ministry also announced temporary measures aimed at strengthening the solvency of the Central Pharmacy of Tunisia and its ability to meet its financial commitments.
These measures include mobilizing additional financial resources by the Ministry of Finance to fund the procurement of medicines, as well as regularizing financial transfers from the National Health Insurance Fund.
The aim is notably to improve the pace of settling suppliers’ debts and to strengthen the Central Pharmacy’s capacity to ensure the supply of medicines within the required timelines.
At the same time, the ministry indicates working on structural solutions designed to preserve the financial balance of the Central Pharmacy and to guarantee the resources necessary for the regular supply of health facilities, in coordination with the Ministries of Finance and Social Affairs.
Provisions planned in the 2026 Finance Law
The ministry’s response also recalls that the 2026 Finance Law provides, through its Articles 18, 19 and 20, additional structural measures aimed at strengthening the financing of the health coverage system and mobilizing resources for the diversification account of social security funding.
Credits have also been allocated for the acquisition of high-cost medicines, notably those used in cancer treatment.
A national platform to anticipate shortages
As part of strengthening governance of the drug supply system and preventing potential shortages, the ministry is also working on the creation of a national platform dedicated to stock tracking and proactive monitoring of the supply situation.
This system is developed in coordination with the National Council of the Pharmacists’ Order and the National Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry.
Obligations imposed on holders of marketing authorizations
The ministry also recalled the decision taken by the Minister of Health on January 26, 2026, imposing on holders of marketing authorizations several obligations aimed at strengthening transparency and ensuring continuity of supply.
These obligations include informing the National Agency for Medicines and Health Products about the actual date of commercialization of authorized medicines, as well as periodically reporting stock levels of raw materials, semi-finished products, and marketed medicines.
Operators must also inform in advance of any temporary or permanent interruption in the marketing of a medicine, at least three months before the planned date of the disruption.
Risk management plans for essential medicines
According to the ministry, the various stakeholders involved must develop specific risk management plans related to drug shortages and products of major therapeutic importance, in accordance with the guidelines set by the National Medicines Agency.
The agency will also be responsible for establishing and publishing a list of medicines whose interruption of supply could endanger patients’ lives or deprive them of essential therapeutic options.
These measures should enable risk anticipation, upstream intervention, and the preservation of the availability of indispensable medicines as well as national drug safety.
