Held under the theme: “The Role of the Pharmacist in the Management and Prevention of Epidemics and Disasters,” the 12th SYNAPHARM Scientific Communication Day took place this Saturday, December 13, 2025, in a spirit of sharing, constructive exchange, and professional commitment.
The 12th Scientific Day of the Malian National Union of Pharmacists (SYNAPHARM) transcended a routine professional gathering, evolving into a strategic forum on national health security. Under the theme “The Pharmacist at the Heart of Epidemic and Disaster Prevention,” the event marked a pivotal shift in perception—from viewing pharmacists as mere dispensers of medicine to recognizing them as essential, frontline public health sentinels and logisticians in crisis management.
**SYNAPHARM’s Advocacy: Building a Resilient Pharmaceutical Sector**
In his opening address, the Secretary General of SYNAPHARM outlined a proactive agenda aimed at fortifying Mali’s pharmaceutical infrastructure, a critical component for any effective disaster response. The union’s recent actions demonstrate a multi-pronged approach:
* **Policy Engagement:** Active participation in the 2024 General Assembly on Health ensures the pharmacist’s voice is heard in national health policy formulation.
* **Institutional Legacy:** Progress on the SYNAPHARM headquarters project, initiated with a laid foundation stone in December 2023, symbolizes a move toward permanent, professional self-governance.
* **Public Health Solidarity:** Concrete actions like medicine donations during the 2025 Month of Solidarity and support for prostate cancer awareness campaigns (“Blue November” with ONASR) showcase the profession’s commitment to community welfare beyond commercial interests.
* **Professional Advocacy:** Persistent efforts to defend the interests of sector professionals are fundamental to maintaining a motivated and stable workforce, which is crucial during health emergencies.
The Secretary General acknowledged the instrumental role of the Minister of Health and Social Development, Senior Colonel Doctor Assa Badiallo TOURÉ, in addressing systemic bottlenecks. Her direct involvement in resolving issues like medicine importation hurdles, ensuring smooth processing of Compulsory Health Insurance (AMO) reimbursements (a lifeline for pharmacy sustainability), and publishing new pharmacy locations has been vital for operational stability.
**Strategic Requests for a Safer Health Landscape**
Moving beyond acknowledgments, SYNAPHARM presented critical requests to the ministry, each targeting a specific vulnerability in the health system:
1. **Intensifying the Fight Against Counterfeits:** This is not merely a commercial issue but a dire public safety threat. Substandard and falsified medicines undermine treatment during routine care and can cause mass casualties during epidemics, eroding public trust in the health system.
2. **Improving Private Pharmacy Training:** The quality of frontline healthcare providers is paramount. Enhanced training ensures pharmacists can accurately triage symptoms, provide crucial public health advice, and manage supply chains during crises.
3. **Protecting the Pharmaceutical Monopoly on Key Products:** Safeguarding the monopoly on laboratory reagents and infant formula is framed as a quality assurance measure. It ensures these sensitive products are handled, stored, and distributed under strict pharmaceutical control, preventing contamination or misuse—a non-negotiable standard during disaster relief operations.
A unifying call was made for mobilizing support for the “Pharmacist’s House” project, led by the National Council of Pharmacists (CNOP). This envisioned center would provide a dignified professional hub, akin to structures in other member countries of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), fostering collaboration, continuous education, and a stronger collective identity.
**The Minister’s Vision: Pharmacists as Pillars of Health Security**
Held under the theme: “The Role of the Pharmacist in the Management and Prevention of Epidemics and Disasters,” the 12th SYNAPHARM Scientific Communication Day took place this Saturday, December 13, 2025, in a spirit of sharing, constructive exchange, and professional commitment.
In her response, Minister Assa Badiallo TOURÉ powerfully endorsed and expanded upon this evolved role. She placed **pharmaceutical research and science at the core of national health security**, stating, “Every discovery, every improvement, every local initiative can save lives.” This highlights a move towards local problem-solving and innovation, such as developing stable formulations for tropical climates or researching traditional medicine integrations, which are vital for sovereignty in health emergencies.
Her directives provided a concrete roadmap for integration:
* **Continuous Training:** To equip pharmacists for roles in **health governance and surveillance committees**, moving them from peripheral advisors to central decision-makers in outbreak detection and response planning.
* **Robust Supply Chains:** Charging pharmacists with helping establish **safe and transparent pharmaceutical supply chains**, especially for emergencies. This leverages their expertise in logistics, inventory management, and cold-chain storage to prevent stockouts of critical medicines during disasters.
* **Recognition of All Pharmacy Sectors:** The Minister advocated for the promotion of **hospital pharmacy** while demanding **equivalent recognition for community, humanitarian, and biological diagnostic pharmacy**. This holistic view is essential:
* **Community Pharmacists:** Are often the first and most accessible health contact, crucial for surveillance, public education, and initial triage.
* **Humanitarian Pharmacists:** Manage complex logistics in unstable environments during crises.
* **Biological Diagnostics:** Pharmacists’ role in this area ensures the quality and reliability of testing, which is the foundation for diagnosing and tracking epidemics.
Finally, addressing the foundation of health access, Minister TOURÉ linked the pharmacist’s role to the broader social protection policy. The strengthening of **Compulsory Health Insurance (AMO)** and the impending **Universal Health Insurance Scheme (RAMU)** are not just financing mechanisms; they are systems that ensure populations can access pharmacist services without financial hardship, making prevention and early intervention feasible for all.
**Conclusion: A Paradigm Shift in Action**
The 12th SYNAPHARM Scientific Day crystallized a transformative vision for Mali’s healthcare. It championed the pharmacist as a keystone professional in building a resilient health system—one that is scientifically informed, logistically prepared, and equitably accessible. The collaboration between the professional union and the Ministry of Health signals a commitment to translating this vision into a tangible national asset for epidemic and disaster preparedness.
*MSDS Communication Network*