The Union of Private Physicians of Senegal (SYMPES) is holding its first Congress, intended as a strategic forum for reflection on two major priorities: continuing medical education and financing for the private healthcare sector, with the aim of strengthening healthcare services and reducing medical evacuations abroad. The congress is scheduled for this Thursday in Dakar.

Professor Pape Saliou Mbaye, Chairman of the Congress's Scientific Committee, emphasized the imperative of continuous updating of medical skills. "If I had to treat patients today with the knowledge I had in 1982, it would be impossible," he stated, highlighting the rapid evolution of medical technologies and clinical practices.

According to him, continuing education is no longer an option, but a requirement to guarantee quality care that meets international standards.

The congress will also address the issue of equitable access to care and the capacity of the Senegalese health system to limit medical evacuations, which are often costly for the state and families.

To this end, discussions are planned on research, innovation and the integration of artificial intelligence in private medical structures, as tools for improving diagnosis, care and the efficiency of the health system.

Regarding financing, the Secretary General of SYMPES, Dr. El Hadi Malick Niang, announced the establishment of a guarantee mechanism amounting to five billion CFA francs, in partnership with the Priority Investment Guarantee Fund (FONGIP). This mechanism aims to facilitate access to bank loans for private physicians, without requiring collateral, in order to strengthen technical facilities and improve healthcare services throughout the country.

This mechanism will be based on a principle of territorial equity, with a commitment to fund at least one project per region. According to the organizers, this approach will help reduce regional disparities in access to specialized care and bring health services closer to the population.

Through this first national congress, the Union of Private Doctors of Senegal intends to lay the foundations for a more efficient, better funded private health sector fully committed to the health sovereignty of the country.