The Tunisia Forum for the Development of Sino-African Medicine opened, immediately producing tangible results with the signing of three major health agreements between Tunisia and China. The pacts are designed to strengthen practical partnerships between universities, hospitals, and medical experts from both nations.
The signing ceremony was a central event of the forum’s inaugural session, held Saturday afternoon at the Convention Centre in the capital under the banner “Let’s Innovate Together.” The event drew significant diplomatic attention and was attended by over 500 experts, 150 specialists from China, and delegations from 15 Arab countries.
In his opening address, Health Minister Mustafa Ferjani detailed the scope of the new agreements:
1. A New Cardiology Center: The first agreement involves cooperation between the La Rabta Hospital in Tunis and the Regional Hospital of Zhang Zhou in China. It focuses on exchanging expertise, medical development, and the establishment of a joint medical center for cardiovascular diseases. The center will specialize in introducing modern techniques for disease control.
2. Advances in Urological Surgery: A tripartite agreement between the Tunis Medical School, the Sino-African Medicine Alliance, and a private company will focus on introducing new technologies in urological surgery. Demonstrating this commitment, Minister Ferjani announced that a team of Chinese surgeons had already performed three operations using innovative Chinese techniques at the Habib Thameur Hospital in Tunis. The agreement also includes a training program for Tunisian and African doctors and support for advanced medical technology.
3. Mobile Surgical Unit for Rural Care: The third agreement centers on cooperation using mobile surgical buses. As part of this, China has provided Tunisia with a fully equipped mobile surgical bus, set to be officially received soon. The vehicle is a self-contained unit, featuring an operating room, resuscitation and monitoring equipment, a sterilization system, and independent power and ventilation. Minister Ferjani stated that the bus will be deployed to interior regions, supporting medical caravans and treatment campaigns conducted by doctors nationwide.
The forum, which saw extensive media coverage, marks a significant step in deepening the strategic health partnership between Tunisia and China, with a focus on innovation and expanding access to specialized medical care.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Editorial Staff)
