Pretoria:According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse - English, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Tunisia, Rana Taha, has praised the advancements Tunisia has made in the health sector, stating these achievements lay a strong foundation for ongoing investment and capacity building in the health system. These remarks were made at the international digital health conference 'TeleHealth Connect 2026,' where Taha represented the World Health Organization (WHO).
Taha highlighted the progress Tunisia has achieved in improving population health through new programs and vaccines, enhanced disease surveillance, and the country's recent certification for eliminating a disease as a public health issue. She noted that Tunisia has completed an assessment of core health programs, establishing a basis for further development and improvement.
The Resident Coordinator emphasized that digital transformation presents a significant opportunity for enhancing Tunisia's health system, provided it is part of a comprehensive reform. She cautioned that standalone digital solutions without integration into wider health-system reforms often fail to meet expectations. Taha stressed the importance of placing social equity at the center of digital transformation to prevent exacerbating health disparities.
Tunisia is adopting an integrated approach to digital health, incorporating telemedicine, electronic health records, data governance, and artificial intelligence. Taha underscored the need to expand teleconsultation services and develop shared health records to improve care continuity and service coordination.
She highlighted that technology offers numerous opportunities to enhance health services, support healthcare workers, and address health challenges. However, the success of digital tools depends on their effective use and deployment. Health-data governance and the ethical use of artificial intelligence are crucial for ensuring patient safety and building trust in digital health solutions.
Taha emphasized the necessity of equipping healthcare workers with the skills to use new digital tools, noting the importance of ongoing training and education. She stated that investing in people is as crucial as investing in technology, as digital transformation is driven by people using technology to enhance healthcare services.
The ultimate goal of digital transformation, Taha concluded, is to create a more efficient, equitable, and sustainable health system that prioritizes the needs of patients.