Over the counter medicines in pharmacies must be paid in cash. Compared to high price countries, like Germany, the prices of drugs are lower and some can even be bought without prescriptions (eg. antibiotics, contraceptives).

Special and expensive drugs (eg. cancer medication) might not be available in Tunisia and should therefore brought, as well as medication of certain brands.

Since the summer of 2012, however, it is reported that at times even common medicines (eg, antibiotics, contraceptives) are no longer available in the pharmacies.
There are several reasons being mentioned, such as import bans for certain manufacturers, lack of foreign currency to purchase drugs and lack of proper distribution within Tunisia.


Generally, the consumption of tap water in major cities and tourist zones of Tunisia is safe, ones gets even used to the high chlorine content (in Tunisia, fluorine is also added to tap water).

Only in very rare cases there is illness because of drinking tap water.

In the fall of 2012, an infestation of some drinking water reservoir in the region of Djerba was reported - as a result there were Mosquitoes, worms and tadpoles in the drinking water.

In general, the quality of water supply throughout Tunisia has deteriorated in the years 2011-2013 - in the summer of 2012, an interruption of water supply occured in various parts of Tunisia (not in the tourist areas, though).

We do not expect that the situation will improve in the near to middle future.