Ouagadougou: The 10th Congress of the National Order of Pharmacists of Burkina Faso, combined with the 6th Pharmaceutical Day, was officially launched this Wednesday in Ouagadougou. The two-day event is being held under the theme: ‘Pharmaceutical Sovereignty of Burkina Faso: Challenges and Opportunities.’
According to Burkina Information Agency, the president of the National Order of Pharmacists, Dr. Nao Nedie, indicated that the choice of this theme is fully in line with the ambitious vision of the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore, which aims to promote the industrialization of the national pharmaceutical sector. This dynamic seeks to establish the mixed economy company, Faso Pharma, to ensure the population has access to quality, safe, and effective medicines while strengthening the country’s health independence.
“In this context, it will be necessary for all the pharmacists present here to become more familiar with the issues related to this pharmaceutical sovereignty, to identify the challenges that stand in our way and to develop relevant and operational strategies that guarantee its effective implementation,” Dr. Nedie explained. The president of the Order specified that, during these two days, participants will take part in panels, conferences, and thematic workshops, as well as the presentation of the mid-term report of the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists, fiscal year 2023-2025.
“Our goal is to develop relevant recommendations that commit us and that will serve as the basis for deep structural reforms in favor of the industrialization of the pharmaceutical sector in our country,” he added. Dr. Nedie invited pharmacists to make this congress a forum for frank exchanges and a space for uncompromising diagnosis.
For his part, the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Dr. Robert Kargougou, stressed that this meeting is taking place in a national context marked by a strong political will to promote the real sovereignty, independence, and emancipation of the country. According to him, Burkina Faso cannot win the battle for its health sovereignty without a strong and autonomous pharmaceutical system.
Dr. Kargougou hoped that these meetings would provide a framework for reflection and proposals for concrete actions, allowing for the analysis of pharmaceutical policies, the examination of professional practices, and a better understanding of the challenges of artificial intelligence in the field. During the opening ceremony, several players in the pharmaceutical sector were decorated for their dedication and contribution to the development of the field.