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Since its inception in 2001, the first studies undertaken by the laboratory, devoted to the epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases and their treatment, fell within the framework of national priorities, namely the knowledge of the magnitude of the transition of diseases. These studies have generated databases on the disease burden of cardiovascular disease in Tunisia (mortality, morbidity, risk factors, and costs of care for certain categories of these diseases).

Our scientific positioning and our research problematic for the period 2014- 2017 are conducted from the results of the studies that we have conducted over the past decade, the questions raised internationally for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including interest our European partners (see list of partners) and the evolution of the Tunisian context and the whole Region Middle East & North Africa (MENA) and the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).

Indeed, because of our close cooperation with European universities and with WHO, we have participated in the identification of research priorities in the region. New issues NCDs are raised at the highest level, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank have sounded the alarm about the evolution of these diseases and their impact on the system health and the economy in general. These institutions encourage countries to address issues now crucial as the social determinants of NCDs, equity, universal access to health care, the economic burden borne by households and by the State as well as the quality of life of patients. The research component has an important place in international concerns about the health problems related to NCDs.

Our research program for the period 2014-2017 largely meets this questioning. Our goal is to make available Tunisia data it needs to develop the relevant NCD prevention strategies in the light of economic and social developments that knows the country. These data will also be useful for institutions and international organizations and other countries in the MENA Region / EMRO as were the results of our previous research.

Despite the consensus on the importance of the analysis of social determinants in the development of health policies, such analysis has never been used to guide policy decisions in Tunisia. Target social determinants in health helps to identify the strategies required to implement and decisions to be taken at legislative level, at the level of institutional capacity building, social mobilization and health financing.

However, stakeholders (policy makers, health professionals, civil society) who are able to act on the social determinants of health, are not aware of the importance of these determinants in the genesis of the disease, in its evolution and its health and economic impact. In Tunisia, no study has addressed the global economic burden of NCDs and their financing. Similarly, the impact of the lack of resources on chronic patients access to care (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, etc.) has not been large wingspans studies. It is the same for the quality of life and mental health of patients treated for these diseases.