Young doctors are warning that healthcare institutions will sink into a debt crisis

On Friday, November 13, 2026, the president of the Tunisian organization of young doctors, Vijay Zakar, warned against the financial and behavioural turmoil within health institutions, accusing them of sinking into debt and corruption, ahead of an upcoming parliamentary session on Sunday, November 15, 2026 to discuss the budget of the Ministry of Health.

Memar revealed that the National Health Insurance Fund has an accumulated debt deficit of more than 13 billion dinars with the National Social Security Fund and the National Pension and Welfare Fund. He explained that the health institutions' debts to the sickness insurance fund amounted to 2 billion dinars, while the central pharmacy debt of the same fund reached 790 million dinars.

He added that pharmacists in the private sector have been selling medicines at real prices for more than 15 days, pointing out that contractors and suppliers have refused to take part in bids for public hospitals for fear of delivery being delayed for more than two years.

Memar criticized the allocation of only 6.88% of the state budget to the health sector while the health system assumes 15% allocation, stressing that the Minister of Health is aware of bankruptcy and corruption files in the sector amid widespread frustration among professionals.

The Assembly of the Representatives of the People will hold a public meeting on Sunday 15 November 2026 to consider the draft budget of the Ministry of Health in the presence of the Minister Supervising the Sector.