During the 8th national congress of general medicine and family medicine, organized from October 23 to 25, 2025 in Hammamet, a chilling observation was made: the massive flight of Tunisian doctors abroad.
According to Doctor Abdelaziz Hamdane, member of the Tunisian Association of General Medicine and Family Medicine, 1,600 doctors out of 1,900 from the last promotion chose to settle in Europe.
This figure alone illustrates the extent of the migratory phenomenon which affects the Tunisian medical profession, in particular young recently qualified practitioners, attracted by better salary conditions, a more rewarding professional environment and more stable career prospects.
The president of the association, Doctor Habib Jerbi, recalled that the country is already going through a critical phase marked by the aging of the population – those over 60 now represent 17% of Tunisians – and that it will soon be urgent to strengthen local medicine and the management of chronic diseases. However, this mission is becoming almost impossible with a continued exodus of medical skills.
Congress participants sounded the alarm on the direct consequences of this human hemorrhage: shortage of doctors in inland regions, overload in public hospitals and difficulties in accessing primary care.
Doctor Hamdane insisted on the paradox that Tunisia is experiencing today: “Our training is recognized and sought after abroad, but our system is no longer able to retain its talents.”
Faced with this continued leak, experts are calling for a structural reform of health policy, focused on enhancing the role of the general practitioner, improving working conditions and recognizing family medicine as a pillar of universal health coverage.
