Negotiations held Tuesday between the Tunisian Organization of Young Doctors and the Ministry of Health did not result in any compromise, despite the presence of representatives of the Prime Ministry, the Ministry of Finance and the Order of Physicians. At the end of the meeting, the president of the organization, Wajih Dhekkar, announced the continuation of the general strike planned for Wednesday as well as a mobilization in front of the seat of Parliament, at a time when deputies are examining the 2026 draft budget of the Ministry of Health.
This escalation comes in a persistent climate of tension between young doctors and the authorities, accused of adopting a policy of “procrastination and ignorance” regarding their demands. At the heart of the conflict, the agreement concluded on July 3, 2025, several commitments of which are still struggling to be implemented. Young practitioners denounce in particular the non-payment of compensation linked to hospital guards, sometimes unpaid for almost five years in certain departments, as well as the delay in revising the text regulating these guards.
The agreement also provided for the publication of the criteria for exemption, postponement or maintenance of the same place of assignment for the civil service. However, no circular has been issued to date, although its entry into force was to accompany the recruitment session of September 2025. Added to this is the request to accelerate the publication of the decree raising the monthly salary of young doctors from January 2026.
According to Wajih Dhekkar, the ministry went back on several commitments, renouncing to publish the criteria for exemption from civil service and to record the salary increase, and only retained the general increases planned in the 2026 budget. The question of guard arrears also remains unresolved.
Wednesday’s strike will concern all medical students, interns and residents in all faculties and hospital structures in the country. Only emergency services will ensure normal operation.
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