This month the European Commission announced a new project aimed at improving access to health care for four million people living in southern and western Tunisia. The project, costing €12 million, will operate in the 13 most disadvantaged regions of Tunisia which accounts for 40% of the population. In addition to significantly increasing access to basic healthcare, the project will improve its quality (creating better conditions in healthcare centres) and will also provide funds for the purchase equipment for out patient services, new medical transport vehicles and building capacity for the Health Ministry.

European Union funding will also increase the number of services offered, such as examinations and specialised services, enabling early screening for chronic diseases associated with an aging population. Thus the project will take on those challenges that are associated with the demographic and epidemiological transition which result from an aging population. "This new, EUR 12 million project complements other actions supported by the EU such as the WHO-EU initiative launched in 2011, which included a health-centre rehabilitation component." (IP/12/886)

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