The medical tourism sector in Tunisia has generated revenues in the order of 5.3 billion dinars in 2019 and attracted 2 million foreign patients including 1 million who resided in hospitals and 1 million who benefited from medical consultations, said Director General of the unit for the promotion of investment and export of health services, Ministry of Health Nadia Fenina.
She was speaking to TAP on the sidelines of her participation in the opening of the 3rd Congress of medical tourism held for 2 days in Yasmine Hammamet.
Fenina said the export of health services is a promising sector, especially since the studies developed under the national strategy for the development of export of health services have shown that Tunisia is able to double the number of foreign patients in 5 years, noting that the calculation of income was made on the basis of 5,000 dinars of spending per patient.
She said the ministry has integrated the development of investment and export of health services among its priorities in the development plan 2023 – 2025 and that Tunisia is able to increase its drug exports by more than sevenfold, which will further raise the country’s foreign exchange earnings and create new jobs.
“Tunisia is able to become a preferred destination for medical tourism and export of health services and also to further promote this sector, as it has modern medical equipment and qualified medics and paramedics, “she further stressed.
The official said the unit of promotion of investment and export of health services at the Ministry of Health is currently working to establish an institutional structure for coordination between the various stakeholders in the public and private tourism and social affairs sectors, besides enhancing communication techniques to boost cooperation and partnership.
For his part, chairman of the organising committee of this 3rd Congress Lotfi Khelifi said a number of specialists and professionals from Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, France, Italy and Burkina Faso are taking part in this meeting.
On the prospects for developing medical tourism in Tunisia, Khelifi said professionals are called to devise a strategy to boost this sector, as it represents «45% of the tourism earning and has high added value, since its activities continue throughout the year.»
Source: Tap News Agency
