Tunis: The government is seeking to increase funds dedicated to clinical research, said the Ministers of Health and Social Affairs during a meeting held, Monday, at the Medical School of Tunis, on the International Clinical Research Day observed each year on May 20.
Health Minister, Ali Mrabet, expressed his department’s willingness to increase funds destined to scientific research, noting that the involvement of all parties, namely the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the private sector, experts and specialists in the field of clinical research, will help improve the quality of healthcare services in the country as well as develop the pharmaceutical industry.
“Tunisia’s workforce is highly qualified, particularly in the field of research. This would allow it to become a hub for clinical research,” he pointed out.
“Tunisia conducted its first clinical research in 1947,” the minister highlighted, adding that “the Pasteur Institute of Tunisia, which celebrated its
130th anniversary this year, plays active role in the field of clinical research.”
Social Affairs Minister Malek Zahi stressed that the ministry is open to all financing options to promote clinical research through social funds, calling on technical teams from the ministries of social affairs and of health to discuss funding opportunities for research in this area.
He explained that the Social Affairs Ministry supports the health system through the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM), revealing that this fund has transferred more than 2,200 million dinars as contributions for the financing of health benefits during 2022.
During the same year, the CNAM disbursed 60% of contributions to fund the central pharmacy, public hospitals and service providers, he said, indicating that the health insurance system has been based for many years on the therapeutic aspect and must include, in the coming period, the prevention aspect.
Samia Charfi, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister, underlined that Tunisia ranks ten
th worldwide in terms of the number of scientific publications, adding that the potential for scientific research is «significant yet not yet fully exploited.»
She stressed the need to consolidate partnership between the pharmaceutical industry and university research laboratories capable of enhancing the performance of clinical research.
Charfi recalled that the government approved tax incentives for drug manufacturing companies which dedicate funds to clinical research.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse