Souveraineté sanitaire : Le Sénégal accélère sa transformation pharmaceutique
Faced with the challenges of health sovereignty, Senegal is undertaking a profound transformation of its pharmaceutical sector. Between the creation of specialized industrial zones, targeted protectionism, and the establishment of an inter-ministerial consortium, the country is preparing for the imminent opening of the African pharmaceutical market.
During a strategic session organized by IRESSEF (Institute for Health Research, Epidemiological Surveillance and Training), the observation was clear: Senegalese ingenuity is still struggling to translate into medicines available in pharmacies. Three major obstacles were identified.
First, an academic disconnect means that excellent research rarely leads to concrete commercialization. Second, siloed work characterized by a lack of dialogue between researchers, industry, and commercial stakeholders. Finally, the crux of the matter: the absence of sufficiently powerful financial mechanisms to bring innovation from the laboratory to the factory floor.
Touba and Diamniadio: The new engines of the medical industry
To move from theory to practice, the government is investing in cutting-edge infrastructure. Two specialized industrial zones mark a turning point. In Touba, a large-scale hub will be dedicated exclusively to the pharmaceutical and medical industries. In Diamniadio, a strategic site will house high-tech production units.
This strategy is accompanied by a clear doctrine: protect in order to grow. Following the Moroccan model, Senegal is planning customs and tax measures to secure national production against international competition.
The situation is urgent. In less than two years, the African pharmaceutical market will be fully open. To avoid being overwhelmed by the giants of North and South Africa, Senegal must establish itself as a production hub for vaccines and reference medicines for the WAEMU and ECOWAS.
"All the research carried out by Professor Mboup's team must have an immediate industrial application," insisted Serigne Guèye Diop, Minister of Industry and Trade.
He stressed the need to protect the results through patents.
A call has been launched for the rapid creation of a Consortium bringing together the Ministries of Health, Industry, Higher Education, and the IRESSEF Foundation. Its mission will be to manage sustainable support funds and forge high-level international partnerships, similar to those with the Bill Gates Foundation, in order to finance research and large-scale industrialization.
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