Tunisian-Chinese Health co-operation examined

Tunisian-Chinese co- operation in the health field was the focal point of an extended working session held, on Wednesday in Tunis, under chairmanship of Public Health Minister Mondher Zenaidi and Chinese Deputy Health Minister Yin Li.

TUNIS - Tunisian-Chinese co- operation in the health field was the focal point of an extended working session held, on Wednesday in Tunis, under chairmanship of Public Health Minister Mondher Zenaidi and Chinese Deputy Health Minister Yin Li.

The meeting focused on means to strengthen co-operation and partnership relations between Tunisia and China in matters of medicine. It also allowed to review issues related to the modernisation of health infrastructure, the development of human resources, pharmaceutical industry and information systems in hospitals.

Mr. Zenaidi briefed his Chinese guest on the sector's situation and its prospects in Tunisia. He highlighted the continuous progress made in this field thanks to President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali's political will.

Mr. Zenaidi commended the diversity and wealth of bilateral co-operation in the health field as shown by the considerable number of Chinese medical teams practicing in Tunisia's inland hospitals. He also praised the Chinese medical team's contribution in the operation of the Pilot Centre of Acupuncture at Mongi Slim Hospital in Marsa, as part of Tunisian-Chinese co- operation.

The minister also expressed will to further diversify the fields of co-operation so that they cover the development of health infrastructure in Tunisia, preventive medicine, scientific research, promotion of quality of medicine, and the establishment of an information system in public health institutions by making the most of the leading Chinese experience.

For his part, the Chinese deputy minister expressed his deep satisfaction at the rapid development of close relations between Tunisia and China for 45 years, stressing the fruitful co-operation established in all fields. He underlined his country's will to strengthen co- operation in the health field for the promotion of health care and preservation of citizens' health as a priority in the political choices of both countries.

Both sides reiterated commitment to enhance the contribution of Chinese medics in Tunisia in some specialties such as surgery, anesthesia-resuscitation and obstetrics as well as the activities of the acupuncture centre so that it could integrate palliative care in oncology.

The two sides agreed on the importance of the exchanges of training and re-training courses for Tunisians physicians, trainers and hospital directors in high-level Chinese centres.

They discussed the partnership opportunities between the two countries' higher-education institutions, all the more so that Chinese grants scholarships to Tunisian students to pursue academic studies in China.

Other issues were looked at, notably concerning the development of pharmaceutical industry in Tunisia, including chronic diseases and cancer medicine, as well as the setting up of a medical information system to facilitate the networking of hospital institutions and improvement of the quality of medical care.

The Chinese official stressed the importance given by his country to the Sfax university hospital project and its will to participate in its achievement. Earlier, the two officials had held a talk during which they reviewed the strong bilateral relations as well as the major fields of co-operation and strides made by Tunisia's development.

The Chinese deputy minister praised the success of the experience of the sickness benefit system in Tunisia where the social coverage rate reached 93%, expressing his country's will to make the most of this edifying experience.

Moreover, the deputy Chinese health minister paid a visit to the Marsa Mongi Slim university hospital where he familiarised with the activities of the pilot centre of acupuncture set up as part of Tunisian-Chinese co-operation. The Secretary of State in charge of Hospitals and the ambassador of China in Tunis attended the talk and the extended working session.

TAP

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