Tunisia's central pharmacy defends limited drug price hikes amid parliamentary criticism

A group of Tunisian deputies issued a joint communiqué denouncing recent increases in medication prices, warning that higher costs jeopardise access for patients with critical illnesses. They called for a national vision on drug pricing, greater transparency, protection for low‑income and chronically ill patients, and reforms of the central pharmacy system. One deputy said, "Le médicament n’est pas une matière à marchandage financier, ni une dépense facultative que les familles peuvent reporter."

The Central Pharmacy of Tunisia (PCT) responded that the revisions concern only a limited number of imported medicines whose tariffs had not been updated for years. The hikes are modest – "quelques dinars et même quelques millimes" – and are intended to cover rising import costs and to guarantee continuous market supply, preventing shortages of essential treatments.