Suspension of Third-Party Payment System for Cnam Affiliates
The National Bureau of the Syndicate of Pharmacy Owners in Tunisia (Spot) has announced the suspension of the third-party payment system for affiliates of the National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam), effective December 8 and until further notice.
Reasons for Suspension
In a statement, the syndicate specified that this decision is due to several unresolved issues:
- Settlement of Cnam's debts to pharmacies
- Clarification of the legal framework governing their activity
- Implementation of urgent measures to preserve the drug distribution chain, including the possible adoption of exceptional financing for Cnam in the 2026 budget law
Background on Third-Party Payment System
As per the Pharmacy Sector Agreement, the third-party payment system is a payment method that allows patients to only pay the portion of medical expenses not covered by their insurance. The remaining amount is paid directly by the health insurance fund to the healthcare professional. This system is designed to simplify the payment process for patients and reduce their financial burden. However, the suspension of this system may cause disruptions to healthcare services and impact patients' access to necessary medications.
