Faced with the government’s silence and outraged by the Health Minister’s recent remarks inviting doctors to emigrate, the Syndicat des médecins du Sénégal (Sames – Senegalese Doctors’ Union) is raising its voice. A three-day national strike has been called from 28 to 30 October 2026, with a decisive press briefing scheduled for this Thursday in Dakar.

The tug of war between health professionals and the state authorities has reached a new critical stage. Meeting in extraordinary session, the National Executive Bureau (Ben) of Sames, backed by Comes and Aiaihs, decided to step up its protest movement in the face of the government’s continuing inaction.

General outrage at the Health Minister’s remarks

At the heart of this escalation, the recent statement by the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene lit the fuse. According to the union, the minister allegedly encouraged Senegalese doctors to seek employment abroad. The Ben described the remarks as “odious” and “contemptuous”, seeing them as proof of a clear inability to resolve the malfunctions of the national health system.

In response, Sames has called a 72-hour general strike for Wednesday 28, Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October 2026, covering the whole country. The union nevertheless specifies that medical emergencies will be covered. To take stock of the situation and set out their demands, union leaders will hold a press briefing this Thursday in Dakar.

A call for total mobilisation

Invoking the legitimacy of their struggle, the Ben calls on all comrades and professionals in the sector to show exemplary union discipline and unwavering mobilisation.

Reaffirming its determination, Sames warns that it will not give in until its list of demands has been fully met.