Health & Education

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.