The President of the Republic, Kaïs Saïed, made a surprise visit to the Rabta hospital (Tunis) on Thursday. He ordered that any patient in an emergency is taken care of immediately, without financial requirement or prior formality. This outing comes after several incidents in refusal of care reported in certain regions.
During this unexpected visit, Kaïs Saïed inspected the emergency department and exchanged with the medical staff. He reaffirmed that “human health is a priority” and that no citizen should be forced to pay before being treated.
“It is up to the doctor to assess the patient’s condition, not at a counter,” he said, stressing that administrative procedures must be done afterwards, and not before, medical care.
The president denounced recent cases, notably in Gafsa, where patients in a critical situation have seen their admission delayed for financial or administrative reasons. He described these practices as “unacceptable” and demanded that they stop immediately.
On the side of the nursing staff, several doctors and nurses have exposed their daily difficulties linked to the lack of means and to the administrative heaviness.
The question of access to care is at the heart of a recurring debate in Tunisia. Emergencies, in particular, often saturated, are particularly affected by these dysfunctions. The reform of the health system remains a priority file but still unfinished.
In addition, the President of the Republic, Kaïs Saïed, carried out a tour on Thursday in several districts of the capital and inspected the work of the future headquarters of the Higher Education Council. He led a visit to several Tunis sectors, starting through the National Educational Center (CNP) before doing a tour in different working -class districts in the capital.
President Saïed concluded his tour by inquiring the state of progress of the work of the future Superior Education and Education Council, located on rue de la Liberté.
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