The document provides an overview of business opportunities in the health sector in Tunisia. It describes Tunisia's health sector ecosystem, identifying the key players and market characteristics. The health sector is one of Tunisia's development priorities, with the government aiming to improve access to healthcare and transform the country into a regional medical services center. The market is characterized by a large public sector provider and a growing private sector. Opportunities exist in areas like medical equipment, wellness services, and serving Tunisia's growing middle class population.

1. Life Sciences
Business Opportunities in
Health Sector
Tunisia
October 2011

2. Introduction
• Objectives
– Describe the Health sector ecosystem in Tunisia
– Identify concrete business opportunities for Finnish companies in the
Health sector
– Formulate market-entry recommendations
– Initiate networking with local key players
• Method
– Secondary data analysis
– Interviews/visits
• Ministry of Public Health
• Charles Nicolle public hospital
• Institut Pasteur
• Sidi Thabet Technopole
• Clinique El Amen Mutuelleville
• Clinique Générale et Cardio-Vasculaire de Tunis
• Dr. Stefano Lazzarri, WHO Tunisia Representative
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3. Contents
1. Tunisia in brief
2. Market characteristics
3. Ecosystem & main players
4. Business models
5. Tunisia SWOT
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4. Tunisia
Population 10,5 million
Area 163 610 km2
Capital Tunis
•
Languages Arabic, French
Currency Tunisian dinar (TND)
(1€ = 1.94 approx.)
GDP 2010 33.4 billion €
(per capita € 3180)
Minim. wage 121 € / month
(40 h work week)
Government Presidential Republic
Sources: CIA World Fact Book, IMF: WEO
database, Portail de l’Industrie Tunisienne, Map
24/10/2011 © U4Travel, UK, Flag: CIA WFB © Finpro 4

5. Economic indicators
2010 2009 • Economic, political and social
Unemployment 13.0 % 13.3% situation has been stable until
GDP growth 3.7 % 3.1% the Arab Spring
Inflation 4.4 % 3.5 %
FDI (M€) 1140.9 1212.1 • Competitiveness: 32nd among
139 countries, 1st in Africa (WEF
Investment rate
24.3 % 24.2 % 2010-2011)
as a % of GDP
FDI per sector 2010 (M€) GDP by sector 2010
800
Services
600
400 Manufacturing
200 industries
0 Agriculture and
fisheries
Non manufacturing
industries
Others
Sources: INS, FIPA, IMF: WEO, African
24/10/2011 Economic Outlook © Finpro 5

6. Trade
• Tunisian economy is diversified and competitive
• Tourism has traditionally been the most important sector in Tunisia followed by
manufacturing industry and agriculture, but the focus is on technology and
innovation based economy.
• In 2010 the country’s exports amounted to EUR 16 billion, whereas imports
were EUR 15 billion, leading to a trade surplus. Tunisia's main exports are
manufactured products (clothing, machinery and transport equipment) energy
and agricultural products.
Trade of Tunisia (M€) Imports of Tunisia 2010
20000 Consumption
products (exc.
15000 food)
Raw and semi-
2009 finished materials
10000
2010
Equipment
5000
products
0
Oil products
Exports Imports Balance
-5000
Sources: INS, FIPA; OBG: the report 2010
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7. Trading partners
• European Union is Tunisia’s biggest trading partner. EU exports to Tunisia amounted to
EUR 8.9 billion and EU imports from Tunisia EUR 7.9 billion (2009)
– Tunisia has signed an Association Agreement with the EU. The trade of goods is
already liberated from customs, but negotiations of services trade and agricultural
products are ongoing.
– Major imports from the EU include machinery and transport equipment (38%),
textiles (13%), chemicals (9.9%) and energy (8.5%)
• Finnish exports to Tunisia reached EUR 53.6 million in 2010, whereas imports amounted
to EUR 8.6 million
– Finnish exports include industrial machinery, communications equipment, wood and
crude materials
Major export partners Major import partners
EU27 EU27
Libya Libya
India Turkey
United States China
Algeria Algeria
Sources: EU Commmission, Tullihallitus
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8. Key Tunisian companies
1 2 3
STIR – Tunisian Tunisie Télécom STEG – Tunisian
Refining Industries Leading telecom operator,
partly state-owned
Company for
company Turnover: 827 M€ Electricity and Gas
State-owned
State-owned company that Turnover: 1155 M €
operates under the Ministry
of Industry and Technology.
Turnover: 1225 M€
4 5
GCT – Group National Company of
Chimique Tunisien Oil Distribution AGIL
Commercializing of oil products
Phosphoric acid and fertilizer and their derivatives, State-owned
production, state-owned Turnover: 675 M€
Turnover: 521 M€
Sources: Corporate websites; Classement des plus
grandes entreprises tunisiennes
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9. Development policy
• Old government’s 12th Development Plan for 2010-2014 aims at improving the
standard of living for all Tunisians
– Goal: GDP up till 5.4 %, cutting unemployment to 11.4 % by creating
425 000 jobs
– Expanding health & social coverage  improving human development index
to the level of developed countries
– Creating knowledge based, innovation and technology driven society 
increasing the number of high-qualified engineers, creating employment for
the young graduates
– Developing infrastructure: EUR 12.250 billion to energy sector (e.g. solar &
wind power), EUR 4.512 billion to ICT sector (digital television, modernizing
telecommunication infrastructure), EUR 2.850 billion to scientific research and
technological development etc.
• Health sector has always been one of the privileges in Tunisia’s social and
economic politics
– Tunisia figures among the countries which have put in place a health policy
that aims at ensuring health care access to the entire population
• Future development of the country depends on the outcome of the elections
in October 23, 2011
Sources: Min. of Development & Cooperation,
EU delegation,
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10. Doing business in Tunisia
• Exporting to Tunisia
– On the basis of the Associations Agreement, Tunisia is looking for preferential
status with the EU, i.e. partenariat privilégié
– The most used method of payment in Tunisia is letter of credit - international
transfer and documentary remittance are also possible.
• Investing in Tunisia
– Good investment and business environment (69 th out of 183 countries in WB’s
Doing Business 2010). Fairly good banking system.
– Offshore advantages in taxation e.g. full tax exemption on exports-derived
profits for the first 10 years and taxation at a low rate of 10% after this period
of ten years for the life of the company.
– Produced goods can be exported to third countries.
– Tunisia continues to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Partnership plays
a major role as nearly half of foreign companies have mixed capital; they are
associated with Tunisians in joint venture.
• Corruption
– In 2010, Tunisia ranked 59th out of 178 countries in the Corruption Perception
Index, ahead Greece, Italy and Romania, as well as most Arab and African
countries.
• Travel & safety issues
– No visa needed for Finns staying less than 3 months
– Safe country for foreign people, yet cultural issues must be considered
Sources: FIPA Transparency
International;. Muslim trade network,
24/10/2011 World Bank: Doing Business 2010 © Finpro 10

11. 1. Tunisia in brief
2. Market characteristics
3. Ecosystem & main players
4. Business models
5. Tunisia SWOT
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12. Market for Health and Wellbeing
• Tunisia has one of the most developed health care sectors in the MENA
region
– Government’s goal is to transform country into regional centre for medical services
by 2016
– 6.8 % of national budget spent on health care in 2009
– Country is set to meet its Millennium Development Goals by 2015
– Health tourism from neighbouring countries & Europe growing
• Public sector is primary provider, private sector is expanding
– There are many differences in services between public and private sectors
• The prevalence of chronic, non-communicable diseases (cardio-vascular
diseases, cancer) is rising sharply among Tunisians
– Smoking is a common habit in Tunisia (males: 58 %, females:7 % in 2006) and
obesity is increasing (males: 14 %, females: 33 % in 2008). Demographic and
epidemiological change has put a strain on public health care infrastructure 
private sector is encouraged to fill the cap.
– Pharmaceutical production is rapidly increasing to meet rising domestic demand
• Wellbeing services in the country are increasing
– Thalassotherapy (seawater treatment) centres have attracted 150 000 tourists
annually
• Tunisia’s growing middle class is able to afford wider range of services
and consumer goods
Sources: OBG the report – Tunisia, EU delegation Tunis, WHO
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13. Tunisia: Health Profile
Health Expenditure
% of total (2009)
Public
Private
Consumer Expenditure
on Health Goods &
Medical Services (M €)
1500
1000
500
Sources: WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional office Statistics, 0
WHO:Global Health Observatory 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
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14. Hospital framework in Tunisia
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15. Structure of the Public Health Care
The university hospitals consist of general
University and specialized centres. Specialized
hospitals centres offer treatment in a single medical
(30) speciality whereas the general hospitals
provide treatment in multiple specialities.
Tunisia is divided into 24 regions and
Regional each region has one or more regional
hospitals hospitals.
(33)
Regions are further divided into
delegations, and each delegation has a
district hospital. District hospitals are quite
District hospitals small units which ensure necessary
(109) treatment in urgencies. They have beds
and own laboratories, in some cases also
specialists.
Basic Health Facilities Basic Health facilities provide daytime
(2800) care and have no beds. They concentrate
on preventative care and treating common
diseases.
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16. Public Sector
• Health care infrastructure comprises 30 university hospitals and 33
regional hospitals, as well as 6 policlinics.
– Hospitals are located in big cities. There are limited health care
resources in rural areas.
– The total bed capacity of the public sector is 17 000 – 18 000.
– University hospitals and basic care facilities are usually effective care
providers, but regional hospitals’ operations could be improved.
– Management of the public sector
is highly centralized, Ministry of Resources per 10 000 people 2010
Public Health controls the whole Physicians 12.3
sector.
Dentists 2.4
(2009)
• Tunisian hospitals have a lot of Pharmacists 3.1
international cooperation by
Nursing and midwifery 32.5
twinning with European hospitals Hospital beds 20.9
and doctor exchanges.
Infrastructure - primary health 2.0
care units and centres
Sources: WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional office
Statistics, OBG Report, Ministry of Public Health
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17. Public Sector Development Plans
• Politically the “privileged regions”, poorer regions in southern and western Tunisia
are an important investment destination. There are many on-going and planned
projects which aim at improving and reinforcing the health infrastructure in these
regions.
• In 2010-2014 Development Plan EUR 425 million is allocated to rehabilitation of
hospitals and developing health care information systems
– Need for medical equipment in hospitals (state-of-the-art equipment: scanners, MRI-
equipment, sonograms)
– Development of Emergency Health Care services needed
• After the revolution, the Plan was revised and an additional EUR 70 million was
allocated to the health sector
– Supplementary support for 3 privileged regions where hospital capacity levels will be
improved.
– EUR 30 million for improving immaterial aspects of the sector (e.g. evaluation of the
medical education, improving financial and administrative efficiency and developing
hospital information and statistics systems).
• Major construction projects (part of the Plan) include construction of a
multidisciplinary hospital in Sfax and a multidisciplinary hospital in Manouba.
• Sfax area lacks resources as far as specialized health care is concerned (at the
moment only one service provider per each speciality)
• The estimated cost of the Sfax hospital is about EUR 20 million and of the
Manouba hospital about EUR 5 million.
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18. Role of Public Sector in Health Care
Source: WHO EMRO
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19. Medical education and research
• Tunisia has 4 medical faculties and 1 dental faculty
– 1000 new physicians graduate each year, about 550 of them are specialists
– Specialization studies are often done abroad (e.g. France and USA), as well as
dentist studies (e.g. Romania)
– Brain-drain is a problem among certain specialists (anaesthesia, radiology),
therefore sending doctors abroad for specialisation studies is a controversial issue.
• Education reform is under preparation
– The purpose of the reform is above all to improve the status of generalists, whose
low appreciation in the country is burdening specialists’ resources.
– A new specialisation option will be created: family doctor .
• Medical research represents one third of all scientific research done in Tunisia
– For the past decade, efforts have been made to encourage people for taking a
research career.
– Institut Pasteur in Tunis is one of the principal research centres. Its main research
areas are epidemiology, immunology of human and animal infectious diseases,
molecular basis of genetic diseases, biotechnology development.
– Main challenges in the scientific research field are methodology problems and
language issues. Research studies are not an obligatory part of medical studies, and
for this reason the Tunisian medical research often lacks certain professionalism.
The use of French as the academic language limits the visibility of Tunisian research
work, and it is often too costly to have the publications translated.
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20. CNAM
• CNAM, La Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie, is the
national health insurance scheme. It was established in 2007
in conjunction with a health insurance reform.
• CNAM is under the authority of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
• The health insurance reform has been carried out gradually,
with more medical services and sectors little by little being
added under the health insurance coverage (first the public
sector services, then more and more private sector services).
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21. CNAM
• As a general rule, a Tunisian gets the CNAM coverage through his or her
employ, and pays a contribution 6.75 % from the salary.
– In 2010, there were more than 2.5 million insurance card (“carnet”) holders.
– In theory, all Tunisian are covered by CNAM but in practise some groups still
remain without coverage.
– Newly graduated enjoy the CNAM coverage for one year after their
graduation.
– The “very poor” will get a “carnet blanc” which entitles them to get public
health care services for free. The “poor” will get a carnet with which they pay
20 % of the medical fees.
– The spouse and children are covered through a parent’s insurance
– In the public sector those who have the carnet pay 20 % of the medical service
fees (the ones without carnet pay 100 % of the fees themselves).
– In the private sector the CNAM reimbursements vary according to the disease.
– In case of chronic or heavy disease (e.g. diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s
disease, psychoses and nervosas) CNAM takes care of all the charges (in
both public and private sector). For cardiovascular operations all charges are
also covered.
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22. Private sector
• Private health care system is well developed, but not accessible for
everyone
– 116 private clinics nationwide, mostly in the greater Tunis region and in big
cities in the coastal areas. In addition there are 100 dialysis centres. During
last 3 years the sector received EUR 230 million investments.
– 80 % of the private clinics are located in the costal area.
– Sector has grown rapidly employing 86 % of country’s pharmacists and
72 % of dentists
– Establishment of National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) has broadened
access to private health care, and financial solvency of insured patients have
encouraged investment in modern equipment, cardiology etc.
– Private care remains relatively expensive and is thus not accessible for all
Tunisians
– Doctors working for the private sector are not generally employed by any
hospital in particular; instead, they work on commission.
– Non-profit private health sector does not exist in Tunisia.
– Private sector is represented by Chambre Syndicale Nationale des
Etablissements de Sante Privés which works under UTICA (Union
Tunisienne de l’Industrie, du Commerce et de l*Artisanat)
– Many private clinics have agreements with foreign companies and embassies
to cover their employees. Private clinics also often have agreements with
different countries to cover the charges of their citizens.
Sources: OBG report Tunisia,
Euromonitor international
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23. Private Investment Projects
• Amen Santé
– 68 bed clinic under construction in Béja governorate, opening scheduled for
2012.
– Tunis Hospital, a 300 bed private hospital (and as such 1 st of its kind in
Tunisia), under construction, opening scheduled for 2014.
• Hannibal Clinic (EUR 22 million)
– 153 bed clinic in Tunis, specialized in cancer treatment
– There is high demand for specialized clinics in Africa, as the offering on the
continent is very limited and patients often travel to Europe for treatment
• Dermatologic Laser Centre Sfax
– Centre opened in March 2011 and it is first one of its kind in Africa. Centre is
co-financed by Lebanese and Canadian investors.
– The centre offers dermatologic care for skin diseases as well as aesthetic
surgeries.
– http://www.centre-sante-beaute.com
• Biotechnology centre in SidiThabet near Tunis
– Site will allow expansion or relocation opportunities to Tunisian and foreign
investors in the domains of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and para-
pharmaceutical industries, life sciences and engineering applied to health.
– The business incubator centre will be opened in the end of 2011.
Sources: OBG The Report - Tunisia
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24. Dental Care
• Dental care sector constitutes of many small private
practises (73 % of dentists practise in private)
• There is a need for modernizing the equipment
• Some dental clinics offer modern services and target
health tourists as well as offer services for foreign
organizations in Tunisia
– Estetika Tour offers dental services for Health Tourists among
other services
– Centre de Rehabilitation Orale is frequented by African
Development Bank personnel
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25. E-Health
• E-Health has been presented in ICT for all forums that were
organized 2005 & 2010
• Ericsson has been active in Tunisian telemedicine market with
its Mobile Health solution
(http://www.ericsson.com/hr/ict_solutions/e-
health/emh/index.shtml)
• Coming up: Special Session on “e-Health” in International
Conference on Next Generation Networks and Services,
Hammamet, Tunisia 19-21 December 2011
(http://ngns2011.regim.org)
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26. Health Tourism
• Affluent people from neighbouring countries and from Europe seek
medical treatment and plastic surgeries in Tunisia
– Estimated 250 000 visitors travelled to Tunisia for medical purposes in 2009.
After South-Africa the country ranks 2nd for medical tourism and 2nd worldwide
in thalassotherapy.
– Foreign patient represented almost 25 % of private clinics’ turnover.
– Surgical operations in Tunisia are 40 to 60 % less expensive than in Europe.
In addition there are high-quality infrastructure, qualified personnel, good
price-quality ratio and high connectivity to key markets (other Maghreb-
countries, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe )
– Plastic surgeries offering is well developed
– In order to increase its competitiveness in health tourism Tunisia has
abolished value-added tax on medical treatment for non-residents in 2005
– The private clinics’ foreign clientele can be divided into three main groups
1. “Sanitary evacuees”, patients who cannot get treatment for their diseases in
their home country (e.g. cancer, oncology)
2. Tourists seeking for relatively basic health and wellbeing services (e.g.
thalassotherapy, physical examination, dental plates)
3. Tourists who come for cosmetics surgeries
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27. Thalassotherapy
• Thalassotherapy refers to the medical use of seawater as a
form of therapy. These establishments usually offer also
non-medical services, wellbeing, relaxation etc.
• Tunisia is second destination in the world in
thalassotherapy after France.
• Hammamet Hasdrubal Thalassa & SPA
– http://www.hasdrubal-thalassa.com/?langFilter=en-GB
• Maritim Hotel Alhambra Thalasso Spa Hammamet
– http://www.alhambra-thalasso.com/Publish/en/index.htm
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28. Pharmaceuticals Industry
• The Central Tunisian Pharmacy is a purchasing agency for all imported
medication, previously approved by the Ministry of Public Health.
• Tunisian pharmaceutical sector has sustained significant growth after its
liberalization in late 1980’s, at present it is valued EUR 400 million.
– Recently demand for pharmaceuticals has increased 10 -14 % yearly due to the
greater access to health care and creation of the Health Insurance Fund
– There are 43 production units (27 for human medicine, 6 for veterinary drugs, 10
specialized in vaccines and serums). Public sector dominates the industry with 75 %
of the output, but local manufacturers are fast expanding their share of the
production.
– There are foreign companies in the market, e.g. Pierre Fabre, which is in a joint-
venture with Tunisian SIPHAT. Also Bayer Schering, Leiras, Orion Farmos, Orion
Pharma, Pfizer and Santen are present.
– France used to dominate the pharmaceuticals importation with more than 80 %
share, but the number has now dropped below 60 %. An important French partner is
Sanofi. Tunisia is actively looking for new trading partners, and has already
established important partnerships with many Arab countries as well as some Asian
countries (e.g. South Korea).
– Share of local manufacturing is 47 %, with steady yearly increase of 2 %. Only 5 %
of the production is exported, but the target is to increase exports to 20 %.
• Tunisia has a capacity to become a research platform in the region in
terms of pharmaceuticals development since there are qualified people
easily available.
Source: Bio Santé Info No. 24
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29. Health sector development and main drivers
Developing
Rapidly growing regional public
private sector hospitals
Social and
demographic
changes in the
country –
Health Care Epidemological
Development of transition
social security system in
strong
development
phase
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30. Main players
ACDIMA
Arab company for
Drug Industries
and Medical Amen
Central Appliances
Santé
Pharmacy of
Tunisia
SIPHAT Private
Société des Industries clinics
Pharmaceutiques
de Tunisie Ministry of
Public Health
Public
hospitals Chronic Disease
Charles Prevention
Nicolle Research Center of
Sousse
CNAM (Cooperation with
THL, Finland)
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31. Charles Nicolle public hospital
• General university hospital - the biggest public hospital in Tunisia
• 1 200 beds, personnel of 2 200 (300 doctors)
• Medical services in most speciality fields, e.g. cardiology,
rheumatology, neurology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, urology,
opthalmology)
• 40 000 hospitalizations, 300 000 consultations and 25 000
operations annually
• Doctor training and internships
• Annual budget TND 50 000, of which 80 % from CNAM
• International cooperation - twinning with Charles Nicolle hospital
of Rouen, France, doctor exchange with Italy, health tourism from
Algeria and Libya - hospital is looking for other foreign partners
• Expansion and development projects ongoing – an emergency
care unit, a building for neonatology services and an endocrine-
diabetes service unit
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32. Amen Santé
• El Amen is the 1st private clinic group in Tunisia, and the El Amen clinics are also
the biggest private clinics in the country. The group has their own purchasing
centre.
• Amen Santé is a part of Amen Bank group, owned by Ben Jedder family.
• Currently there are 3 operating El Amen clinics (in Mutuelleville, La Marsa and
Gafsa) and two new ones under construction. A clinic in Béja will be opened in 2012
and Tunis Hospital in Place Pasteur in 2014.
– The Béja clinic will be multidisciplinary medical unit with the capacity of 68 beds.
– The Tunis Hospital will be the first private hospital in Tunisia, and it will employ at
least 500 people. It will be a multidisciplinary hospital with 300 beds.
• The Mutuelleville clinic is the oldest one of the Amen clinics, it was opened in 1995.
The La Marsa clinic was opened in 2005 and the Gafsa clinic in 2010.
– The Mutuelleville clinic has 64 beds and 5 operating rooms. It also has a separate
cardio-vascular department, Amen Heart (Amen coeur), with 2 cardiac surgery
rooms and about 20 beds. Amen Heart was opened in 2006.
– La Marsa clinic has 33 beds and 5 operating rooms. The clinic is currently being
expanded by 18 beds and 1 operating room.
• Besides health care services, Amen Santé clinics offer esthetic surgeries, which
attract international clientele.
• In the Mutuelleville clinic, the vast majority of the patients is Tunisians. The
percentage of foreigners has slightly decreased after the revolution. La Marsa clinic
has a higher percentage of foreign patients since it is more concentrated on plastic
surgery.
• The Mutuelleville clinic uses e.g. Philips equipment.
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33. Clinique Générale et Cardio-Vasculaire
• The Clinique Générale et Cardio-Vasculaire is located close to
Tunis city centre.
• The clinic was established in 1993, as the first private cardio-
vascular clinic in Tunisia. Later on the clinic has expanded, and
now covers all medical specialities except maternity.
• The clinic has 60 beds and 2 operating rooms. 500 open heart
surgeries are performed annually.
• About 60 % of the patients are Tunisians, 15 % Libyans, 20 %
other Africans and the rest Europeans.
• Of the hospital budget, 60 % comes from the patients and 40
% from the CNAM.
• The hospital turnover is approximately EUR 6 million.
• The clinic has GEHC equipment in use.
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34. Health Sector: Overview and Challenges
• In general, the health sector in Tunisia has been a success story. In the future
the country has potential to become an exporter of medical services, instead
of being a mere recipient of them.
• The sector needs transition from providing acute care to treating and
preventing chronic and lifestyle diseases. This transition is not happening fast
enough. Also, treating chronic diseases is very costly.
• Regional disparities remain remarkable. Inland regions suffer especially from
the lack of specialists.
• Doctors’ salaries are remarkably higher in the private sector than in the public
one. Many specialists opt for working in the private sector, and the private
sector also attracts more investments than the public sector. This is leading
to a situation in which the rich get better and higher quality care than the less
wealthy.
• The refugee situation at the Libyan border is burdening heavily the Tunisian
public health sector
– Refugee camps, meant to be temporary, are becoming a permanent residence
for many Sub-Saharan Africans and Asians.
– Tunisia and Libya have an agreement according to which Libyan can use the
Tunisian public health care services for free  there has lately been
discussion whether the Libyans should be charged for the services, but this is
deemed unlikely.
– Hospitals in the south have already almost used their annual budgets and
quotas for fuel, medicines, wages etc.
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35. Opportunities in Life Sciences
• The Tunisian Ministry of Health expressed a strong interest for international
cooperation and financing in Manouba and Sfax hospital construction
projects.
• Medical equipment for hospitals and clinics
– Local presence is crucial! Hospitals purchase equipment from providers who
have a local representation because of the importance of face-to-face
business negotiations, training and after-sales services.
• Finnish experience for organising health care in isolated towns / regions
– Telemedicine – Tunisia already has some experience, but the concept could
be developed further.
• Hospital ICT
– ICT is efficiently utilized for hospital administration and financial functions, but
otherwise there remains field for development of other applications.
– A particular problem is introduction and management of ICT systems.
• Rehabilitation services for ageing and disabled people
• Development of Emergency Health Care services
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36. Opportunities in Life Sciences
• Biotechnology Centre in Sidi Thabet might offer interesting possibilities
as a hub for life sciences once its activities get properly started (2012)
– The centre is looking for partners with experience in production of
biomolechyles. They are Interested in finding a partner in Finland.
– The technopole CEO Noureddine Bouzouaïa also expressed interest
towards Finnish technopole systems.
• Institut Pasteur is interested in technology and human resources know-
how transfer with Finland (and other Nordic countries). Pasteur needs
consultation especially in “passage au production”, moving from
academic level to implementation.
• Pharmaceuticals
– Finland and Tunisia used to cooperate in this field, therefore Tunisians
have a positive image of the Finnish pharmaceuticals sector and would
welcome new partnerships.
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37. Tunisia SWOT
Strengths Weaknesses
• Public sector development needs
• Good business environment financing for construction and
• High education level rehabilitation of hospitals; tendering
• Outsourcing and offshore activities well process is not easy for foreign
developed and supported companies
• Private sector well developed • Long-lasting relations and local
• Strong relations with the EU presence needed
Opportunities Threats
• Development of regional public • Development of sustainable business
hospitals needs human and financial resources
• Rapidly growing private sector • Competition with local and international
• Development of democracy companies
• A gateway to other African countries
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