In Ouagadougou, members of the Union of Managers and Cashiers of Public Pharmaceutical Depots in Burkina Faso convened their sixth general assembly on Saturday, June 6, 2026. The gathering served as a renewed appeal to national authorities to address their challenging working conditions. Central to their demands is the urgent adoption of an official professional status, a recognition they deem vital for a profession underpinning the nation’s healthcare system.
The assembly, themed « The resilience of volunteers in the service of the people », provided a platform for participants to voice their growing concerns regarding a situation they describe as increasingly precarious.
Ousmane Bolly, President of the Union, highlighted the plight of many managers who have dedicated decades to their roles without the benefit of a clearly defined professional framework. He lamented that some individuals, despite 20 or even 30 years of service, do not even receive the national minimum wage (SMIG).
The organization asserts its representation of over 3,000 managers operating across all health districts within Burkina Faso.
The critical impact of lacking official status
For the Union’s leadership, the core issue remains the absence of a regulatory text to govern the profession of public pharmaceutical depot managers and cashiers. This regulatory void leaves these essential healthcare workers highly vulnerable, making them susceptible to what they describe as unfair dismissals when they advocate for improved working conditions.
According to Ousmane Bolly, some agents are even hesitant to publicly declare their affiliation with the Union, fearing professional repercussions.
Inadequate compensation for vital roles
Attendees at the assembly also strongly condemned the meager remuneration provided to these agents. With monthly incomes often fluctuating between 20,000 and 25,000 FCFA, they contend that their earnings are no longer sufficient to cope with the rising cost of living in Burkina Faso.
Despite these low wages, these pharmaceutical depot managers are crucial. They tirelessly ensure the daily distribution of essential medicines and provide patient reception in healthcare facilities that are frequently under immense pressure.
Years of advocacy yield little progress
The Union has been actively pursuing improvements to their situation since 2020, undertaking numerous initiatives:
- Engaging in discussions with the ministries responsible for Health and Public Service;
- Securing audiences with the Presidency of Faso;
- Participating in various workshops focused on the management of pharmaceutical structures.
Despite these extensive efforts, the organization’s leaders express deep disappointment over the lack of concrete progress. To facilitate a regularization framework, the Union has completed a comprehensive census of its members and submitted the data to the relevant authorities.
The Union now calls for a more robust involvement from the State in re-evaluating and enhancing this profession. They argue that the revenues generated by pharmaceutical depots alone are insufficient to guarantee a sustainable improvement in their working conditions.
Concluding the general assembly, Ousmane Bolly commended the participants’ strong mobilization and urged authorities to provide a swift and decisive response to their pressing concerns.
