Senegalese doctors have announced plans to strike amid growing concerns over pharmaceutical safety following the discovery of expired raw materials at a manufacturing plant. The action, announced Tuesday, March 10, 2026, by the Autonomous Union of Senegalese Doctors (SAMES), aims to protect healthcare professionals and address what unions describe as a threat to public health.
The controversy began when expired materials were found at a Senegalese subsidiary of a Chinese group specializing in the production of baby diapers and sanitary napkins. Initially, the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (ARP) called for a recall of Softcare products, but later reversed its decision, stating the materials had not been used in production.
A joint investigation involving the Health and Commerce ministries, as well as an information-gathering mission by the National Assembly, followed the initial reports. Health and Public Hygiene Minister Ibrahima Sy presented the investigation’s findings, which indicated the raw materials used posed no health risk, but revealed deficiencies in the ARP’s inspection procedures, sparking public anxiety.
Health sector unions are now denouncing what they call mismanagement and are calling for an independent inquiry involving the National Office for Combating Fraud (OFNAC) and the General Inspectorate of the State (IGE). “It is crucial to carry out a complete audit of the procedures for approval, inspection and delivery of certificates,” said Mariama Thiam of the Single Union of Health Workers (SUTSAS). “As well as to publish transparently the seizures made against illicit drugs.”
SAMES stated, “The right of Senegalese people to safe, effective and quality health products is non-negotiable.” Unions are coordinating action in Dakar, with plans to expand protests nationally, arguing the situation extends beyond an administrative issue and poses a direct threat to the credibility of Senegal’s healthcare system.
The health sector now awaits concrete measures from the government to restore public trust and ensure the safety of health products in Senegal. The case highlights the importance of robust regulatory oversight in the pharmaceutical industry and the potential consequences of lapses in inspection protocols.
