Faced with numerous questions from members of parliament regarding the high cost and quality of care, the lack of staff, the lack of equipment, the issue of ambulances and the organization of health structures, the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene wanted to provide a strategic framework, in line with the National Transformation Agenda Senegal 2050.

Before even addressing the grievances, the minister reiterated that health is now central to the "quality human capital and social equity" pillar of this new public policy framework. The aim is to shift from a system focused on treatment to one centered on prevention, health promotion, and territorial equity.

A sectoral policy letter for 2025-2029 aligned with Senegal 2050

The sector is now governed by the Sectoral Policy Letter (SPL) 2025-2029, which aims to build "a quality, resilient and accessible health system for all Senegalese, regardless of their place of residence or income level", with the prospect of positioning Senegal as a regional health hub.

Ten major priorities have been defined, including: the elimination of preventable maternal, neonatal and infant deaths, the improvement of the medical technical platform, the revival of the local pharmaceutical industry, the strengthening of the governance of the health system, the digitalization of the sector, the improvement of the prevention of non-communicable diseases, the promotion of hygiene and public health, health insurance and health integrated into all public policies.

Four areas of action for a rapid recovery

Since taking office, the minister claims to have undertaken an approach based on four major pillars: optimizing existing infrastructure before building new infrastructure; improving the functioning of existing structures to ensure continuity of care; mobilizing more funding, in addition to the 217 billion CFA francs already allocated to the sector, through structured projects ready to be financed; strengthening governance by addressing organizational, transparency and management issues; and undertaking deep reforms in line with new national guidelines.

To this end, a Delivery Unit has been established, composed of international experts funded by development partners, with the mission of developing projects ready to be proposed to donors.

Public hospitals on the road to recovery

The minister acknowledged that significant financial losses had been recorded in public hospitals, particularly in terms of revenue. Corrective measures are underway, including the appointment of new hospital directors with a clear mandate for recovery, the digitization of payments and timekeeping, the implementation of more rigorous reception and management procedures, and the upcoming introduction of cost accounting for greater transparency.

According to him, with sound governance and appropriate subsidies, some hospitals could become more self-sufficient, invest in their equipment, recruit staff and reduce the cost of services for the population.

Structural reforms in sight

Several major reforms are underway, including: the development of a Health Code to harmonize and modernize the legal framework, the establishment of a national health map, which will set standards by level of structure (health post, center, hospital EPS1, EPS2, EPS3…), the future submission of this health map to the National Assembly to give it a mandatory character, the ongoing validation of the law and decree on telemedicine, in order to better cover isolated areas.