EconomyLens.com
No Result
View All Result
Thursday, July 10, 2025
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Business
  • Markets
  • Tech
  • Editorials
EconomyLens.com
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Business
  • Markets
  • Tech
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
EconomyLens.com
No Result
View All Result
Home Economy

As Tunisia’s economy falters, medical tourism flourishes

Emma Reilly by Emma Reilly
January 31, 2024
in Economy
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
0
19
SHARES
235
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Tunis (AFP) – At a fertility clinic in Tunis, Bintou Yunoussa hopes doctors can finally help her conceive — one of more than two million foreigners who travel to Tunisia annually for medical procedures.

While Tunisians face economic hardships and their government is mired in debt, medical tourism has thrived and authorities are looking to expand the profitable sector even further.

Yunoussa, from Niger, said a relative had recommended the private clinic in the Tunisian capital after three years of unsuccessful treatments.

Related

Mexico barred from sending cattle to US over flesh-eating pest

US senator warns of fossil fuel coup, economic reckoning

Volkswagen US deliveries fall as Trump tariffs bite

Cambodian garment workers fret Trump’s new tariff threat

China’s snaps 4-month consumer decline but factory price deflation deepens

“My sister-in-law had twins after an insemination carried out in Tunisia,” the 25-year-old told AFP.”That’s why I chose to come here.”

She was accompanied by her sister Khadija, 32, who had her eggs frozen five months ago in the same clinic, which specialises in medically assisted reproduction.

Nadia Fenina, a health ministry official, said Tunisia’s highly specialised private clinics and skilled staff make it a leading medical tourism destination.

“Tunisia is number one in Africa in terms of healthcare demand and supply,” Fenina told AFP.

Medical tourism has bounced back from a coronavirus-era halt, and the sector generates around 3.5 billion dinars ($1.1 billion) in annual revenues — about half of Tunisia’s overall tourism income last year.

“Medical tourism is linked to the general tourism sector, because a foreign patient is also a tourist who generally does not come alone,” said Fenina.

“The promotion of medical tourism depends on the development of the tourism sector” as a whole, she added.

Accounting for nine percent of Tunisia’s gross domestic product, tourism is crucial for the debt-stricken country where the economy has slowed down, with a World Bank estimate putting growth for 2023 at a modest 1.2 percent.

Last year, the small Mediterranean country of 12 million people drew nearly nine million tourists, according to official figures.

They included more than 500,000 foreign patients hospitalised in Tunisia and about two million others who had received same-day care, officials say.

– Chance to relax –

The Tunis clinic where Yunoussa was treated received 450 patients for in vitro fertilisation last year, many of whom from sub-Saharan African countries where some treatments may be unavailable or hard to access, said Dr Fethi Zhiwa.

Others came from elsewhere in North Africa as well as Western countries like Britain, Switzerland and Canada, said the doctor, citing affordable rates and Tunisia’s “world-renowned fertility specialists” as the main drawing points.

Many European medical tourists come for cosmetic surgery, representing 15 percent of all treatments for foreigners in Tunisia, Fenina said.

Mohamed, a 59-year-old Libyan who gave his first name only, visits Tunisia twice a year to see his cardiologist for regular check-ups following an operation.

“This doctor saved my life, I will never change him,” he said.

Travelling with his wife, the couple planned to use the latest trip to also “spend a few days relaxing in Tabarka”, a town on Tunisia’s northwestern coast, Mohamed said.

Tourism has “strong potential” in Tunisia and can grow “if we overcome some obstacles and limitations”, said Fenina.

Direct flights to more African destinations and simpler visa procedures could help, she said, “which is why we are working to implement a medical visa”.

The health ministry is also working on better coordination between medical tourism agencies, healthcare providers and other stakeholders, and collaborating with the private sector to set up facilities geared towards an elderly European clientele.

While the country has seen an alarming rise in anti-migrant sentiment, marked by violence and fiery remarks last year by the president painting “hordes” of Africans as a threat, Yunoussa said she felt welcome in Tunisia.

“I feel at home here,” she said.

Tags: fertility clinicmedical tourismTunisia
Share8Tweet5Share1Pin2Send
Previous Post

Asian markets swing as traders eye Fed, US jobs and earnings

Next Post

Flutter eyes US listing switch in new post-Brexit blow

Emma Reilly

Emma Reilly

Related Posts

Economy

Iraq’s Kurdistan enjoys all-day state electricity

July 9, 2025
Economy

Iraq’s Kurdistan enjoys all-day state electricity

July 9, 2025
Economy

The long slow death of Norway’s wild salmon

July 9, 2025
Economy

China’s snaps 4-month consumer decline but factory price deflation deepens

July 8, 2025
Economy

China’s ‘new farmers’ learn to livestream in rural revitalisation

July 9, 2025
Economy

Trump says to set 50% copper tariff, no extension to August deadline

July 8, 2025
Next Post

Flutter eyes US listing switch in new post-Brexit blow

Germany's mine-to-motor lithium supply chain takes shape

Samsung reports sharp drop in operating profits

The $12.5 billion fraud that has shocked Vietnam

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

New York ruling deals Trump business a major blow

September 30, 2024

Elon Musk’s X fights Australian watchdog over church stabbing posts

April 21, 2024

Women journalists bear the brunt of cyberbullying

April 22, 2024

France probes TotalEnergies over 2021 Mozambique attack

May 6, 2024

Ghanaian finance ministry warns against fallout from anti-LGBTQ law

74

New York ruling deals Trump business a major blow

72

Shady bleaching jabs fuel health fears, scams in W. Africa

71

Stock markets waver, oil prices edge up

65

Japan’s sticky problem with Trump, tariffs and rice

July 9, 2025

Stocks mostly rise on trade deal optimism

July 9, 2025

Trump hits Brazil with 50% tariff, sets date for copper levy

July 9, 2025

Global stocks mostly up despite new Trump tariffs, Nasdaq at record

July 9, 2025
EconomyLens Logo

We bring the world economy to you. Get the latest news and insights on the global economy, from trade and finance to technology and innovation.

Pages

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Categories

  • Business
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Tech
  • Editorials

Network

  • Coolinarco.com
  • CasualSelf.com
  • Fit.CasualSelf.com
  • Sport.CasualSelf.com
  • SportBeep.com
  • MachinaSphere.com
  • MagnifyPost.com
  • TodayAiNews.com
  • VideosArena.com
© 2025 EconomyLens.com - Top economic news from around the world.
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Business
  • Markets
  • Tech
  • Editorials

© 2024 EconomyLens.com - Top economic news from around the world.