The private medical sector plays a central role in the Senegalese healthcare system. This was one of the key messages that emerged from the opening ceremony of the first scientific congress of the Union of Private Physicians of Senegal (SMEPS), held this Thursday in Dakar.

According to Dr. Abdou Kane Diop, president of SMEPS, private medicine now contributes 45% of the national healthcare supply, confirming its status as an essential pillar alongside the public service. This contribution translates not only into access to care for millions of patients, but also into a strong capacity for innovation and job creation.

The private sector employs more than 35,000 healthcare professionals. Over the years, it has distinguished itself by introducing cutting-edge medical technologies, thereby helping to reduce medical evacuations and improve the quality of patient care.

According to Dr. Diop, health sovereignty cannot be achieved without greater integration of the private sector into public health policies. He therefore advocated for a more suitable regulatory and financial framework, enabling the sector to strengthen its investment capacity and ensure equitable access to care throughout the country.

Present at the ceremony, the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Ibrahima Sy, praised the contribution of the private sector, which he considers a strategic partner of the State. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting ongoing reforms, including the revision of the medical procedures nomenclature, the updating of fees, and the overall improvement of the regulatory framework.

The work of this first scientific congress should make it possible to formulate concrete recommendations to strengthen the contribution of the private sector to a more efficient, equitable and sovereign health system.