The Ministry of Health is warning and urging labor unions to respect the commitments of the National Pact for Social Stability. The appeal was made by Malick Diallo, Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Health, at the opening of the national congress of the Autonomous Union of Doctors, Pharmacists, and Dentists of Senegal (SAMES), held this Saturday in Dakar. Addressing union leaders, the Director of Human Resources reiterated that "the National Pact for Social Stability, for inclusive and sustainable growth, remains a central instrument for dialogue, conflict prevention, and ensuring the continuity of public health services."

According to him, failure to respect mutual commitments undermines social peace and exposes the healthcare system to disruptions detrimental to the population. Acknowledging the difficulties encountered in several sectors, particularly health, education, and primary sector, Malick Diallo nevertheless emphasized the need to "implement the frameworks established by the pact," especially the steering and technical committees. These bodies, he explained, should allow for an objective assessment of the implementation status of the agreements, the identification of obstacles, and the implementation of necessary corrective measures in a spirit of shared responsibility. In a tense economic environment, marked by the need to control public spending, he called on social partners to prioritize dialogue and consultation in order to avoid an escalation of social conflicts.

 

From the union perspective, an alarming diagnosis of the Senegalese healthcare system has been made. Several factors are contributing to its fragility: "budgetary restrictions, rising costs of medical supplies, overcrowding of public hospitals, and increasing demotivation of healthcare staff."

Addressing the delegates, Lamine Fall, Deputy Secretary General of the National Confederation of Workers of Senegal (CNTS), reminded them that the social gains achieved in recent years are the result of long union struggles and social dialogue. "The recent salary increases prove that it was essential to be present in the union federations to effectively defend workers' interests," he declared, reflecting on the battles waged since 2015.

The debates also placed the national situation within an unfavorable international context. The economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, combined with the consequences of the war in Ukraine, has severely impacted the economies of developing countries. Rising food prices, increased energy and pharmaceutical costs, slowing growth, and rising public debt are straining government budgets.

“These successive shocks are resulting in a contraction of social spending. Health spending is often the first to be affected,” lamented Lamine Fall, referring to an estimated 18% decrease in the Ministry of Health’s budget in the 2026 draft finance law. This prospect is considered particularly worrying in a context where public hospitals are already facing significant structural difficulties.

 

Human resources: the heart of the problem

 

The theme of the SAMES congress, focused on the recruitment, motivation, and retention of human resources in healthcare, resonated particularly strongly during the discussions. Participants raised concerns about the increasing scale of medical practices, job insecurity among young doctors, and the growing brain drain abroad. "Without strong internal governance and foresight, no organization can withstand the profound changes underway."

Structural demands still pending

Among the sector's main expectations are the revaluation of compensation, the adoption of a specific status for medical professionals, the clarification of career paths, and the reform of the legal framework governing public health. These are all considered essential to restoring the motivation of professionals and offering credible prospects to young practitioners facing unemployment or precarious employment. The Ministry of Health has nevertheless announced initiatives aimed at improving the integration of young doctors and offering them opportunities in both the public and private sectors in the medium term.