Members of the Union of Managers and Cashiers of Public Pharmaceutical Depots in Burkina Faso gathered in Ouagadougou on Saturday, June 6, 2026, for their sixth general assembly. They once again called on authorities to address their working conditions. Central to their demands is the adoption of an official status for a profession they consider vital to the health system.
Held under the theme “Resilience of Volunteers Serving the People,” the assembly allowed participants to voice their growing concerns about a situation they see as increasingly alarming.
According to Ousmane Bolly, president of the Union of Managers and Cashiers of Public Pharmaceutical Depots in Burkina Faso, 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 do not even earn the minimum wage,” he lamented.
The union claims to represent more than 3,000 managers across all health districts in the country.
Absence of status at the heart of difficulties
For union leaders, the main issue remains the lack of a regulatory text governing 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 workers even fear publicly showing their union membership due to fear of professional retaliation.
Salaries deemed insufficient
Participants also condemned the low pay levels. With monthly incomes often ranging between 20,000 and 25,000 FCFA, they say they can no longer cope with the rising cost of living.
Yet, they point out, depot managers ensure daily medicine distribution and welcome patients in health facilities that are often under heavy demand.
Steps taken over several years
The union says it has multiplied initiatives since 2020 to improve its situation.
- Meetings with the ministries of Health and Public Service;
- Audiences with the Presidency of Faso;
- Participation in several workshops on pharmaceutical facility management.
Despite these efforts, union leaders regret the lack of concrete progress. The union says it has conducted a complete census of its members and submitted the data to the relevant authorities to facilitate the establishment of a regularization framework.
It now calls for stronger state involvement in upgrading this profession, arguing that the resources generated by pharmaceutical depots alone are insufficient to ensure lasting improvement in working conditions.
Closing the general assembly, Ousmane Bolly praised the participants’ mobilization and urged authorities to provide a swift response to their concerns.
