During their sixth general assembly held last Saturday in Ouagadougou, members of the Union of Public Pharmaceutical Depot Managers and Cashiers in Burkina Faso once again pressed authorities to address their working conditions. At the core of their demands is the urgent need for an official status for a profession they consider vital to the nation’s healthcare system.

The assembly, themed “The resilience of volunteers serving the people”, provided a platform for participants to voice growing concerns over what they describe as an increasingly dire situation.

The absence of a professional framework leaves workers unprotected

The Union’s president, Ousmane Bolly, highlighted the plight of many depot managers who have served for decades without a formal professional framework. “Some have been working for 20 or 30 years, yet their monthly earnings barely reach the minimum wage,” he lamented.

The organisation represents over 3,000 depot managers across all health districts in Burkina Faso. For its leaders, the lack of a regulatory text governing the profession leaves these workers exposed to arbitrary dismissals, particularly when they advocate for better conditions.

Bolly also revealed that some members fear openly declaring their affiliation to the Union due to potential professional reprisals.

Low wages fail to meet rising living costs

Participants condemned the meagre salaries, which typically range between 20,000 and 25,000 FCFA per month. They argue that these earnings no longer suffice amid soaring living expenses, despite their critical role in distributing medicines and managing patient flows in often overburdened health facilities.

Years of advocacy yield no tangible results

The Union claims to have pursued relentless efforts since 2020 to secure improvements, including:

• Meetings with the Ministries of Health and Public Service;
• Direct engagements with the Faso Presidency;
• Active participation in workshops on pharmaceutical management.

Despite these initiatives, leaders report no meaningful progress. They have since conducted a comprehensive census of their members and submitted the data to relevant authorities to expedite the establishment of a regulatory framework.

The Union is now urging the state to take decisive action in improving the profession’s status, asserting that revenue from pharmaceutical depots alone cannot sustain lasting improvements in working conditions.

In closing the assembly, Bolly praised the participants’ commitment while urging authorities to respond promptly to their concerns.