WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy has concluded a successful 3-day visit to Tunisia between 13–16 April 2025.

Dr Balkhy met with H.E. Dr Mustafa Ferjani, Minister of Health, to discuss ways to address the social determinants of health, drug addiction, migration of the health workforce, medicine shortages and vaccine plans.

The visit reaffirmed WHO’s strong partnership with the country in advancing health system resilience and equity, and Dr Balkhy expressed WHO’s full commitment to support the Ministry of Health as it addresses Tunisia’s national health priorities.

During a meeting with H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ali Nafti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Dr Balkhy discussed ways to promote multilateralism and further the partnership between WHO and Tunisia, building on already strong collaboration.

Dr Balkhy recognized Tunisia’s impressive efforts to strengthen health systems and promote innovation across multiple fronts, including combating antimicrobial resistance, enhancing emergency coordination, strengthening regulation and enabling local production of medicines, empowering communities, advancing research and training and scaling up vaccine production and genomic sequencing.

Dr Balkhy reiterated WHO’s commitment to deepening collaboration and supporting Tunisia’s journey towards universal health coverage and sustainable development, and advocated for the adoption of the health in all policies (HIAP) approach which has proved successful in many countries.

In the course of the 3-day trip, Dr Balkhy visited the Mother and Children Protection Centre during which a dialogue on community engagement was held, the Leishmaniasis Collaboration Centre, the Pasteur Institute and the National Health Assessment and Accreditation Centre (INEAS). She also met with the beneficiaries of Tunisia’s movable cinema for health project.

During her stay in Tunisia, Dr Balkhy also visited the Saudi Embassy for a meeting with Mr Ibrahim Saad Ibrahim, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Tunisia.