Burkina Faso: pharmaceutical depot managers demand official status and fair wages

In Ouagadougou, members of the Union of Public Pharmaceutical Depot Managers and Cashiers of Burkina Faso convened their sixth general assembly on Saturday, June 6, 2026. The gathering served as a renewed appeal to authorities regarding their challenging working conditions. Central to their demands is the urgent adoption of an official professional status for a role they consider indispensable to the nation’s healthcare system.

The assembly, themed “The resilience of volunteers in service of the people,” provided a crucial platform for participants to voice their profound concerns over what they describe as an increasingly precarious professional situation.

Ousmane Bolly, President of the Union of Public Pharmaceutical Depot Managers and Cashiers of Burkina Faso, highlighted that numerous managers have dedicated decades to their roles, some for 20 or even 30 years, yet still lack a clearly defined professional framework. He lamented that some members do not even earn the national minimum wage (SMIG).

The organization proudly asserts its representation of over 3,000 managers operating across all health districts throughout the country.

Undefined status: a core challenge

For the Union’s leadership, the primary obstacle remains the absence of a regulatory framework governing the profession of public pharmaceutical depot manager or cashier. This regulatory gap, they argue, leaves these dedicated workers highly vulnerable, exposing them to what they term “abusive dismissals” whenever they advocate for improved working conditions.

Ousmane Bolly revealed that some agents are hesitant to publicly acknowledge their affiliation with the Union, fearing professional repercussions.

Inadequate compensation for vital work

Attendees at the assembly also strongly condemned the meager remuneration provided to these essential healthcare agents. With monthly incomes often fluctuating between 20,000 and 25,000 FCFA, they contend that these wages are no longer sufficient to cope with the escalating cost of living.

Despite these challenging conditions, pharmaceutical depot managers consistently ensure the daily distribution of medications and provide crucial patient reception services, often in highly demanding healthcare facilities.

Years of advocacy yield little progress

The Union has been actively pursuing improvements since 2020 through various initiatives, including:

• Engaging in discussions with the ministries responsible for Health and Public Service;
• Securing audiences with the Presidency of Faso;
• Participating in multiple workshops focused on the management of pharmaceutical structures.

Despite these persistent efforts, the organization’s leaders express deep disappointment over the lack of tangible progress. The Union has meticulously completed a comprehensive census of its members and submitted this data to the relevant authorities, aiming to facilitate the establishment of a regularization framework.

The Union now earnestly advocates for stronger state intervention in revaluing this critical profession. They argue that the revenues generated by the pharmaceutical depots themselves are insufficient to guarantee a sustainable improvement in working conditions.

Concluding the general assembly, Ousmane Bolly commended the strong turnout of participants and reiterated his call for a prompt and decisive response from the authorities to address their pressing concerns.