The Autonomous Union of Doctors of Senegal (SAMES) is holding its congress around a central theme for the future of the national health system: "Recruitment, motivation and retention of doctors, pharmacists and dentists: what sustainable union responses?" Through this meeting, SAMES intends to make a clear diagnosis of the human resources crisis in health and propose union solutions that meet the structural challenges facing the country.

For several years, Senegal has faced a shortage of doctors, pharmacists, and dentists, exacerbated by an unequal distribution between urban and rural areas. Healthcare facilities in the interior of the country struggle to attract and retain qualified professionals, jeopardizing equitable access to care for the population.

A persistent shortage and marked territorial inequalities

Adding to this reality are the medical exodus, the precariousness of certain employment statuses, excessive workloads, and often unmotivating working conditions. "The congress also emphasizes the issue of professional motivation. Insufficient remuneration, slow career advancement, lack of recognition, insufficient continuing education, and inadequate technical facilities are among the demotivating factors regularly denounced by healthcare unions," the union representatives explain.

For SAMES, "sustainable improvement of the health system necessarily involves valuing human capital, a fundamental pillar of any effective health policy".

Faced with these challenges, SAMES advocates for structured, responsible, and long-term solution-oriented union responses. Among the proposed solutions are: "career and status enhancement, improved working conditions and occupational safety, incentive policies for disadvantaged areas, enhanced access to continuing education and specialization, and a sincere and ongoing social dialogue with the State."

It should be noted that "the congress scheduled for this Saturday is intended to be a space for collective reflection, but also for formulating concrete proposals to be submitted to health and government authorities."