In a clinic in Tunis, Bintou, 25, came from Niger for assisted reproduction. More than two million foreigners seek treatment each year in Tunisia, where medical tourism is one of the few thriving sectors in a flagging economy.
“Tunisia is number one in Africa in terms of demand for care and supply,” explains Dr. Nadia Fenina, an official at the Ministry of Health, to AFP.
Despite a pause during Covid-19, this “priority” sector generates around 3.5 billion dinars (more than a billion euros) in annual turnover. Last year, medical tourism (hospitalization, medicines, related activities) represented half of the revenue of the entire tourism sector.
However, tourism, which represents 9% of GDP, is crucial for a country, heavily in debt, and running slowly (1.2% growth estimated in 2023).
For three years, Bintou Yunoussa underwent several treatments abroad to have a child before a relative recommended a “very competent” doctor in Tunisia.
“My sister-in-law had twins after an insemination carried out in Tunisia, that’s why I chose to come for in vitro fertilization,” Ms Yunoussa explains to AFP.
His 32-year-old sister, Khadija, who accompanies him, had her eggs frozen in the same private clinic in Tunis, specializing in PMA (medically assisted procreation), five months ago.
She does not feel any discomfort in Tunisia, the scene of racist incidents in spring 2023 after a virulent anti-migrant speech by President Kais Saied. “I feel at home here,” she says.
The center received 450 couples for in vitro fertilization last year, many of them patients of sub-Saharan origin coming from countries without infertility treatment establishments, Dr Fethi Zhiwa, an infertility specialist.
The others were North Africans with family in Tunisia, or Westerners (British, Swiss, and Canadian in particular), who came “because the costs are ten times lower” than at home.
“They also choose Tunisia because we have world-renowned fertility specialists,” adds the doctor.
“Strong potential”
More than 500,000 foreign patients are hospitalized each year in Tunisia, and more than two million are treated for outpatient care.
Libyans are at the top of the foreign patients, followed by Algerians, then nationals from sub-Saharan Africa, according to the ministerial official.
More than half of patients seek treatment for PMA, in oncology (chemotherapy and hormonal therapy), cardiology, or orthopedics.
As for Europeans, they come mainly for cosmetic surgery which represents 15% of treatments.
Tunisia is “first” in Africa thanks to “around a hundred specialized private clinics with a technical platform and high-level specialties, as well as recognized skills”, explains Dr. Fenina.
Mohamed, a 59-year-old Libyan, comes to Tunisia every six months for a check-up with his cardiologist after a “delicate” operation. “This doctor saved my life, I will never change him,” he confides.
With his wife, Mohamed plans to “take advantage of this trip to Tunis to spend a few days relaxing in Tabarka”, in the northwest of Tunisia.
“Medical tourism is closely linked to the global (tourism) sector because a foreign patient is also a tourist, who generally does not come alone and therefore needs accommodation of a decent standard,” confirms Dr Fenina.
“The promotion of medical tourism is dependent on the development of the tourism sector” as a whole. “If we did not have well-developed, well-structured tourism, we would not have reached this stage,” she says.
For Dr. Fenina, medical tourism has “strong potential and could achieve higher numbers if we overcome some obstacles and limitations”.
She cited the absence of direct airlines between Tunisia and some sub-Saharan African countries and a slowness in granting visas, “that’s why we are working on a medical visa.”
To facilitate the arrival and monitoring of patients in Tunisia, the Ministry of Health is preparing a text organizing the activity of all stakeholders: specialized agencies, facilitators, etc.
The ministry is also working with the private sector to set up other clinics and new accommodation centers for dependent elderly people coming from Europe.
