At the conclusion of the National Congress of the Autonomous Union of Physicians, Pharmacists, and Dentists of Senegal (SAMES), Dr. Diabel Dramé was unanimously elected National Secretary General on Saturday, December 20. This appointment, marked by consensus, was hailed as the culmination of extensive preparatory work. "I express my satisfaction with what has happened today. Humbly, I have been elevated to a certain level by my colleagues," declared the new Secretary General. He thanked all the union members for the trust they placed in him, emphasizing that the electoral process unfolded in a calm atmosphere, the result of prior consultation and teamwork.

Strengthening the health system and working conditions

For Dr. Diabel Dramé, this new responsibility is a continuation of the fundamental mission of healthcare practitioners: public service. "All we do is promote the health of the population," he reminds us, while emphasizing the need for adequate resources to achieve this objective.

According to him, these resources rest on three essential pillars: sufficient and qualified human resources, appropriate equipment, and functional healthcare infrastructure. With the new leadership team at Sames, he aims to open an inclusive and constructive dialogue with the authorities, in order to enable healthcare professionals to practice in decent conditions and, in turn, provide quality care to the population.

Crisis at the ARP: an ignored warning?

When questioned about the controversy surrounding the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (ARP), the new Secretary General of SAMES did not mince words. "What is happening today at the ARP is inconceivable and regrettable," he stated, believing that the situation seriously undermines the credibility of a body responsible for regulating pharmaceutical products.

According to him, this crisis is far from an isolated incident. "For over two months, we have alerted the authorities through letters about unorthodox practices observed within the agency, but our appeals have gone unanswered," he laments. The current controversy is thus merely "the straw that broke the camel's back."

Call for an external audit

Given the seriousness of the accusations, Dr. Diabel Dramé is calling for a thorough and independent investigation. He welcomes, in this regard, the announcement of an external audit by the competent authorities, which he considers an essential step in determining responsibility.

“The credibility of the ARP is currently tarnished. This is not good for a country that has such a structure, envied by many states in the sub-region,” he warned. He concluded: “With this new term, SAMES intends to position itself as a vigilant union player, both a defender of practitioners’ rights and a guarantor of public health. A significant challenge for Dr. Diabel Dramé, now at the head of one of the most influential unions in the Senegalese health sector.”