The Tunisian government has allocated 500 million Tunisian dinars ($190 million) to reform the Central Pharmacy (governmental) and reduce its fiscal deficit.

The Central Pharmacy is the governmental institution that distributes medicines in the local market to the country’s pharmacies.

This announcement was made by the Head of Government Youssef Chahed, on the sidelines of his participation in the works of the Pharmaceutical Industries Forum in Tunisia, which was held in the city of Hammamet.

The Central Pharmacy is facing rising debts of 800 million Tunisian dinars ($304 million), according to the General Organisation of Health, a labour union.

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The increase in debt is due to increased financial benefits for pharmacies in the local market and social fund offices, affecting the availability of the medicines in the market.

The Private Pharmacies Syndicate said that the country has been facing a shortage of certain types of medicines as a result of the financial difficulties that are caused by the Central Pharmacy.

Chahed asserted that “Tunisia covers 60 per cent of the local market’s needs of medicines. The pharmaceutical sector has a turnover of 700 million Tunisian dinars ($266 million) and an annual value of exports estimated at 200 million Tunisian dinars ($76 million).