Senegal wants to increase the share of local drug production, but manufacturers currently cover less than 10% of national needs, far from the targets of 30% in 2030 and 50% in 2035.

To understand the obstacles and improve access for domestic producers to public procurement, a workshop was held this Wednesday, bringing together manufacturers, public buyers, and regulators. Production capacity exists, but local companies struggle to access the public market, which represents approximately 20% of the pharmaceutical market. The remaining 80% is dominated by private wholesalers.

Professor Yerim Mbagnick Diop points out that local industry could do more: "If we consume everything it produces today, we will exceed 30%. The problem stems mainly from difficulties in accessing the public market."

He cites the complexity of procedures, technical and financial requirements, and competition from imports as major obstacles. In the private sector, the share of domestic industry remains low, at around 3%. In the public sector, it reaches approximately 18%, still far from the targets set for 2025.

To change the situation, the State has undertaken several reforms: a passive correlation to favor local production when manufacturers request it, an active correlation, through a list of sovereign medicines that Senegal plans to produce locally and no longer import, by 2035, a derogation from the Public Procurement Code intended to facilitate the purchase of medicines from the local industry, a manual of procedures from the SEN-PNA expected to clarify the terms of access to public procurement.

Dr. Mor Diagne, from the Ministry of Health, points out that these efforts are part of the Systemic Transformation Strategy of Senegal (ST2S) adopted in 2024. This strategy places health sovereignty at the center of national priorities.

"Senegal wants to cover 50% of its drug needs by 2035. This will only be possible if we remove the obstacles that hinder manufacturers' access to the public market," he says.

The workshop aims to create a framework for dialogue between industry, SEN-PNA, DCMP, ARCOP and DSMP, in order to develop a common roadmap to strengthen the local industry and secure the supply of medicines.

Even if the 2025 targets are not met, stakeholders remain optimistic. They are counting on public procurement reform, better coordination, and support measures, particularly in energy and taxation, to make the pharmaceutical industry a true pillar of Senegal's health sovereignty.