Tunisia and Saudi Arabia Strengthen Health Cooperation Through Hospital Projects and Digital Health Initiatives

Tunis, November 3, 2026 – Health cooperation between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia is expanding to encompass several hospital projects, specialized medical programs, and the development of digital health. These key initiatives were at the center of a meeting held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, between Tunisian Minister of Health Mustapha Ferjani and the Saudi Ambassador to Tunis, Mohammed Ben Abdallah Ben Hamad Al-Breikhan.

Significant Increase in Public Health Investment

This deepening cooperation comes against a backdrop of rising public investment in the health sector. The draft budget for 2027 allocates 1.321 billion Tunisian dinars to the sector, a substantial increase from the 780 million dinars allocated in 2026. This represents a growth of approximately 69.4%, signaling a strong governmental commitment to modernizing healthcare infrastructure.

Acceleration of Major Hospital Projects

During their discussions, both officials emphasized the need to accelerate the completion of several major hospital projects:

• King Salman bin Abdulaziz University Hospital in Kairouan: A flagship project aimed at enhancing specialized medical care in central Tunisia.
• Sbiba and Jemmal Hospitals: These facilities are being developed with the support of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), underscoring the financial and technical partnership between the two nations.

Specialized Medical Interventions and Upcoming Inaugurations

The cooperation framework also includes a series of specialized medical interventions designed to improve patient outcomes in critical areas:

• Dialysis Center at Charles-Nicolle Hospital: Scheduled for inauguration on November 16, 2026, following its renovation with the support of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action.
• Upcoming Medical Missions: Further collaborative efforts are planned in the following fields:
  • Cochlear implants and pediatric auditory rehabilitation
  • Corneal transplants
  • Pediatric interventional cardiology
  • Vascular surgery
  • Advanced dialysis services

Advancing Digital Health and Telemedicine

Digital health represents another pivotal axis of this bilateral partnership. On the sidelines of the official meeting, the Saudi Ambassador visited the Ministry of Health’s Digital Hospital.

Tunisia’s digital health infrastructure has already achieved significant milestones. According to data presented at the Telehealth Connect forum in September 2026, the system has facilitated over 100,000 tele-radiology examinations across 30 healthcare facilities.

The exchanges with the Saudi delegation are expected to foster the sharing of expertise in this domain. The primary objectives are to:

1. Enhance the quality of digital health services.
2. Facilitate greater citizen access to remote care and telemedicine solutions.

This strategic alignment highlights a shared vision between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia to leverage technology and specialized medical expertise to improve healthcare accessibility and quality for their respective populations.