Members of the Union of Managers and Cashiers of Public Pharmaceutical Depots in Burkina Faso gathered for their sixth general assembly in Ouagadougou on Saturday, 6 June 2026. They once again called on authorities to improve their working conditions, demanding the adoption of an official status for a profession they consider vital to the healthcare system.
Under the theme “The Resilience of Volunteers Serving the People,” the assembly highlighted growing concerns among participants about their precarious situation.
Ousmane Bolly, president of the Union of Managers and Cashiers of Public Pharmaceutical Depots of Burkina Faso, noted that many managers have been working for decades without a clearly defined professional framework. “The people you see here have been working for 20 or 30 years, yet some earn less than the minimum wage,” he lamented.
The union claims to represent over 3,000 managers across all health districts in the country.
Lack of status at the root of problems
For union leaders, the core issue remains the absence of a regulatory text that defines the profession of public pharmaceutical depot manager or cashier. This leaves workers highly vulnerable, exposing them to what they describe as abusive dismissals when they demand better working conditions.
According to Ousmane Bolly, some agents are even afraid to publicly reveal their membership in the union for fear of professional retaliation.
Insufficient wages
Participants also condemned the low pay these workers receive. With monthly incomes often ranging between 20,000 and 25,000 CFA francs, they say they can no longer cope with the rising cost of living.
Yet, they emphasize that pharmacy depot managers ensure the daily distribution of medicines and welcome patients in health facilities that are often under heavy demand.
Long-standing efforts
Since 2020, the union says it has multiplied initiatives to improve the situation, including:
- meetings with the ministries of Health and Public Service;
- audiences with the presidency;
- participation in several workshops on the management of pharmaceutical facilities.
Despite these steps, union leaders regret the lack of concrete progress. They report having completed a full census of their members and submitted the data to the relevant authorities to facilitate the establishment of a regularization framework.
The union now urges stronger state involvement in upgrading this profession, arguing that the revenue generated by pharmaceutical depots alone cannot ensure lasting improvements in working conditions.
Closing the assembly, Ousmane Bolly praised participants’ commitment and called on authorities to respond swiftly to their concerns.
