Around ten Tunisian companies operating in the medical tourism sector will be honored at a prestigious international medical event. The event is the ‘Health Awards 2024’ World Medical Tourism Summit, which will take place in Dubai on November 7, 2024.
Initiated by the Health Tourism Industry (HTI), a European parapublic body, this event will honor eight destinations of excellence in medical tourism, including Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Singapore and other European countries.
Tunisia’s participation is organized by the HTI in partnership with the National Chamber of Health Services (CNESS), the National Chamber of Private Health Services (CSNESP) and the National Health Federation of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), with the support of the Ministry of Health.
A dozen Tunisian operators from various links in the medical tourism value chain (clinics, intermediary agencies, electronic telemedicine platforms and service companies, etc.) will receive various awards, said Ghazi Mejbri, president of the CNESS, at a press conference on Monday.
Mejbri said the companies would be selected by a national jury on the basis of specific criteria, following a call for applications. The list of nominated companies will be submitted to the international jury, which will make the final decision and present the trophies to the winners during the awards gala.
The President of the CNESS stressed that this edition of the “Health Awards” will ensure greater visibility for Tunisia as a destination and for Tunisian health operators, rewarding their merits and highlighting their potential and successes.
Stemming the outflow of Tunisian medical professionals
Mejbri pointed out that Tunisia is ranked 38th out of 42 countries recognized as health destinations, according to the Medical Tourism Index (IMT), which takes into account the health industry, resources and the general environment (airport, taxis, cleanliness, etc.).
He added that medical tourism is a promising sector for Tunisia in terms of earning foreign currency and making health facilities profitable, with foreign patients accounting for between 30% and 40% of the total.
Its development will also help to reduce the emigration of Tunisian medical and paramedical professionals, he added.
However, he highlighted certain obstacles to the development of the sector, such as the lack of direct flights to certain destinations, the absence of Tunisian embassies in certain countries to market Tunisia as a destination and inform potential patients, and shortcomings in the services sector (airport reception and transport system).
Excellence, innovation, dedication
The HEALTH Awards, a prestigious annual gala to honor, celebrate and recognize the outstanding contributions of healthcare professionals and institutions for their excellence, innovation and dedication is back!
Following the resounding success of previous years, the annual HEALTH Awards ceremony returns this year and is scheduled for November 20, 2024.
The HEALTH Awards cover a wide range of categories including clinical excellence, research advances, patient safety initiatives, healthcare leadership, medical education and community awareness.
They are presented at high-profile ceremonies in partnership with government bodies, dignitaries and celebrities, where healthcare professionals and industry leaders come together to celebrate and recognize these outstanding achievements.
These prestigious awards are often presented to doctors, surgeons, nurses, researchers and healthcare organizations who have demonstrated exceptional skill, compassion and leadership.
The HEALTH Awards aim to foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and knowledge sharing to advance patient care and inspire the next generation of healthcare leaders to make a lasting impact on the well-being of individuals and communities.
In this context, Mejbri called for joint efforts by the Ministries of Health and Tourism, the employers’ association and the various players in the sector to promote its development and exploit its untapped potential.
