Tunisia and Saudi Arabia are seeking to give new momentum to bilateral health cooperation projects by accelerating the completion of three hospitals currently being developed with support from the Saudi Fund for Development, in a move aimed at improving medical services and expanding healthcare coverage in several Tunisian regions facing challenges related to hospital infrastructure.
This direction emerged during talks between Tunisian Minister of Health Mustapha Ferjani and the Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia, Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Al-Buraithan, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, during which both parties reviewed the progress of joint health projects and ways to overcome difficulties that might delay their entry into service.
The projects include the King Salman bin Abdulaziz University Hospital in Kairouan, the local hospital in Sbiba in Kasserine Governorate, and the local hospital in El Jem in Mahdia Governorate. These facilities are expected to help bring health services closer to citizens and strengthen the capabilities of healthcare institutions in inland regions.
The King Salman University Hospital in Kairouan is the most prominent of these projects, with an estimated investment cost of around 450 million Tunisian dinars and a planned capacity of 500 beds. It is expected to host multiple medical and surgical specialties, which could help reduce patients' need to travel to major hospitals in Tunis and Sousse.
The project, which was announced back in 2017, experienced repeated delays before its implementation path was revived. Accelerating the current works serves as a test of the supervising authorities' ability to meet commitments regarding deadlines, equipment, and the human resources necessary for operation.
The discussions were not limited to the three hospital projects, but also addressed preparations for the inauguration of a specialized kidney disease center at Charles Nicolle Hospital on November 16 of this month, following the completion of its renovation work in cooperation with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.
The two sides also discussed developing additional medical initiatives within the framework of the Saudi volunteer program, particularly in fields requiring specialized expertise and equipment, in addition to exchanging experiences related to digital transformation in the health sector.
In this context, the Saudi ambassador was briefed on the experience of the digital hospital affiliated with the Tunisian Ministry of Health, where emphasis was placed on the importance of leveraging technical solutions to develop the quality of care and facilitate access to medical services.
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