Tunisia strengthens digital health services and hosts Telehealth Connect 2026 to advance international cooperation

Under the high patronage of the President of the Republic, Tunisia will host Telehealth Connect 2026 from 29 September to 1 October 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Center, Tunis. The event is expected to bring together more than 500 participants from 30 countries, including ministers, government officials, representatives of international organizations and healthcare institutions, as well as experts, researchers, innovators and technology partners.

The gathering reflects Tunisia’s commitment to expanding digital health to improve access to care, bring specialist services closer to citizens across the country’s regions, and strengthen the quality and continuity of care.

The aim is to translate the opportunities offered by technology into healthcare services that benefit citizens in their daily lives by facilitating access to medical expertise, reducing unnecessary travel, and improving patient follow-up and information sharing between healthcare facilities.

Tunisia’s experience continues to expand on the ground

Tunisia’s health system is developing a range of digital programmes covering telemedicine, teleradiology, interconnected healthcare facilities, electronic medical records and the national health identifier, alongside new digital services for citizens.

According to data prepared by the Ministry of Health for the event, the deployment of teleradiology across 30 healthcare facilities has enabled more than 100,000 examinations. A further 99 facilities are at various stages of implementing electronic medical records, reflecting progress in this initiative and ongoing efforts to complete its rollout and extend its benefits.

The number of active national health identifiers has also reached 800,000, helping to link health information and improve the tracking of patients’ care pathways.

The Ministry is also preparing to launch the “Sahetna” platform, which aims to progressively enable citizens to follow their care pathways, view their appointments and health information, and access their children’s health information, in accordance with access controls and personal data protection requirements.

These initiatives form part of a broader effort to modernize public healthcare and promote equity across regions, with particular attention to training healthcare professionals and supporting their use of new tools.

Technology in the service of people

In this context, Professor Mustapha Ferjani, Minister of Health, stated:

“Digital transformation is, first and foremost, a means of making quality healthcare more accessible to citizens and enabling healthcare professionals to work within a more connected and efficient system. Our responsibility, as policymakers, doctors, researchers and engineers, is to ensure that technological progress remains in the service of people, and not the other way around.

Telehealth Connect offers Tunisia an opportunity to share its experience, strengthen cooperation with partners in Africa, the Middle East and the international community, and translate digital health ambitions into practical, sustainable solutions tailored to the needs of our populations.”

A programme combining strategic dialogue and practical work

The three-day programme will address the practical requirements for expanding digital services, integrating them into the daily operations of healthcare facilities, and ensuring their quality and sustainability.

Key themes will include telemedicine and virtual care, the interconnection of health information systems and data sharing, the responsible use of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and health data governance, as well as virtual hospital models and cross-border cooperation in telehealth.

Part of the discussions will focus on teleradiology experiences and their requirements in terms of organization, coordination and access to expertise. Participants will also explore opportunities to expand national programmes and improve access to specialist diagnostic services.

The event will examine opportunities for cross-border cooperation and the regulatory and professional issues they raise, with an emphasis on protecting patients’ rights, safeguarding the confidentiality of their information and respecting national frameworks.

Expert-led practical workshops will cover cybersecurity in healthcare, the responsible use of artificial intelligence, workforce skills development, and improvements to the interoperability of digital health systems.

Protecting data and building trust

Securing health information is essential to the success and sustainability of digital transformation. The event will provide an opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen personal data protection, define access permissions, secure digital infrastructure and support healthcare service continuity in the face of cyber threats.

Particular attention will be given to the responsible use of artificial intelligence, including the quality and safety of tools, human oversight, and their ability to meet the needs of patients and healthcare professionals.

These issues are central to building trust among citizens and professionals and ensuring that the development of digital services upholds rights and national sovereignty over health data.

International cooperation to support implementation and sustainable investment

Telehealth Connect 2026 will provide a forum for sharing experience among government bodies, international organizations, healthcare institutions, universities and the private sector.

The network of supporting organizations and partners listed in the event programme includes the World Health Organization, the World Bank Group, the International Telecommunication Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population, among others. Private-sector partnerships include Huawei and Tunisie Telecom.

Participants will examine the requirements for sustainable investment in infrastructure, equipment, information systems, training and maintenance to support service continuity and expansion in line with countries’ needs and capacities.

The meetings will aim to identify practical opportunities for cooperation in service development, experience sharing and capacity building, with attention to tracking outcomes and measuring their impact on the quality and accessibility of care.

The event is organized by MWAN Events and will bring stakeholders together to address the challenges of putting digital health into practice.

By hosting this gathering, Tunisia seeks to share its experience, learn from international approaches, and strengthen African and regional cooperation in support of health systems that are better equipped to meet citizens’ needs.

To contact the Ministry of Health, please email us at: presse@rns.tn