A 21 -year -old woman died on Tuesday at the Houcine Bouzaïne regional hospital in Gafsa. A judicial investigation and an administrative inquiry were opened to determine the circumstances of the drama, against the backdrop of charges of refusal of care for lack of social coverage.
The prosecution at the Gafsa court of first instance ordered the opening of a judicial investigation after the death of a young woman Tuesday, July 23, 2025 at the Houcine Bouzaïne hospital. The 21 -year -old victim would have been affected by acute appendicitis.
67 dinars…
According to initial information relayed on social networks, hospital staff refused to admit it on the grounds that it did not have social security coverage.
His father would have been summoned to pay 67 dinars, sum that he could not have provided at the moment. The young woman’s state of health then deteriorated quickly, leading to her death.
Indignation…
The Ministry of Health reacted quickly by announcing the opening of an administrative inquiry to shed light on the possible responsibilities of medical or administrative staff.
The case also aroused the indignation of many Internet users, shocked by the possibility that a refusal of care could have cost the life of a young woman.
The right to health in question
The right to health is guaranteed by the Tunisian Constitution, but effective access to care remains conditioned, in some cases, by the holding of social coverage or the capacity to pay in advance certain costs. Several similar cases have already been reported, regularly relating the debate on free urgent care in public hospitals.
In the regions of the interior, the situation is even more critical, between under-equipment, overload and lack of staff.
