Medical tourism business thrives in Tunisia with nearly 350,000 foreign patients in 2022

TUNISIA – Nearly 350,000 foreign patients traveled to Tunisia in search of the highest quality of healthcare as of the end of 2022.

Out of the 350,000 foreign patients who visited Tunisia in 2022, 30% were nationals from countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Medical tourism is a booming healthcare industry in Tunisia, according to publicly available data published by The Central Bank of Tunisia whose main objective is maintaining price stability.

Tunisia’s tourism revenues rose by 54% in the first half of 2023 to 2.221 billion dinars (US$716 million) compared to 1,438.8 million dinars (US$474.93) in the same period last year.

The Central Bank of Tunisia announced in an official notice that tourism receipts were 1.438 billion in the first half of 2022.

On medical tourism revenues, Mourad Bin Hussein, President and Director General of the Tunisian Export Development Centre (CEPEX), said Tunisia is the leading destination in Africa in terms of patient numbers and revenues.

Mourad Ben Hassine further said that health services intended for foreigners in Tunisia are up more than 3.5% as of mid-July 2023 per the latest indicators from the Central Bank of Tunisia.

“Health services intended for foreigners posted a 3.5% rise of all medical services for export in the first half of the year, up from 2.7% in the same period of 2019,” outlined Mourad Ben Hassine.

With over 40 years of experience, the Tunisian Export Promotion Center has developed valuable expertise and effective know-how in the support and guidance of exporting companies in the international markets.

He further noted that Tunisian health services were often exported and consumed in the Algerian and Libyan markets.

Out of the Tunisian exports of health services, 80% of exports in this sector were sold to the two consuming countries in Africa.

“Tunisia is ranked 38 out of 46 destinations worldwide in the Medical Tourism Index for the period between 2020 and 2021,” pointed out Mourad Ben Hassine.

Managing Director of CEPEX, Mourad Ben Hassine, made these remarks during the 6th sector-based meeting aimed at boosting exports in the health sector held on July 13, 2023, at the Maison de l’Exportateur in Tunis.

The conference drew the presence of Mohamed Al-Deeb, Director General of the Libyan Export Promotion Centre (LEPC), and Mourad Bin Hussein, President and Director General of the Tunisian Export Development Centre.

Moreover, Participants at the sector-based meeting recommended speeding up the publication of legislation governing the healthcare intermediary sector and putting in place a national strategy to promote exports of healthcare services.

Attendees also advised policymakers to revise and update the regulations governing the granting of authorizations to foreign patients.

They also advised relevant stakeholders involved in the Tunisian exports of health services to launch air routes between Tunisia and sub-Saharan African countries as soon as possible.

The objective is also to ensure a professional insertion of the graduates of higher education and those of professional training to promote the quality of the services offered and to convey a better image of Tunisia as a tourist destination.

Comparably, the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) is seeking to boost economic relations with Tunisian businesspeople.

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