Pharmalys was pleased to participate in the first congress of the Syndicat des Médecins Privés du Sénégal, held over three days from 22 to 24 January at the King Fahd Palace Hotel in Dakar. As part of the symposium “Advocacy for research in the private health sector,” Marieme Ba, CEO of Pharmalys, delivered a 15-minute presentation titled “Clinical trials in the private health sector in Senegal.”
The session opened with a presentation on the role and missions of the Comité National d’Ethique pour la Recherche en Santé (CNERS) by Dr. Aissatou TOURE BALDE, followed by Marieme’s presentation on clinical trials in the private health sector in Senegal. This was complemented by Prof. Hamidou DATHE’s presentation on the toolbox for research projects in the private medical sector. The discussions that followed emphasised the importance of integrating private sector data into the national health information system.
Clinical trials: a fast-growing and strategic sector
In her presentation, Marieme Ba highlighted the rapid growth of clinical research globally and the increasing competition between countries and regions to attract studies. This evolving landscape represents a strategic opportunity for private healthcare providers in Senegal, provided that clear strategies, strong collaboration, and sustained investment are put in place.
Addressing the African paradox
She then touched on what is often referred to as the African paradox. Despite representing 18% of the world’s population and shouldering 23% of the global disease burden, Africa accounts for only around 3% of global clinical trials. As emphasised during the session, this imbalance limits the continent’s ability to generate locally relevant evidence and undermines health equity and sovereignty as emphasised during the session.
Africa at the centre of future research
Marieme also indicated that Africa is increasingly recognised as essential to the future of clinical research, thanks to expanding medical infrastructure, unique genetic and epidemiological diversity, and a large pool of potential participants. Regulatory frameworks are maturing, costs remain competitive, and international collaboration is accelerating.
Within this context, Senegal stands out as a potential regional leader in clinical research, with a Level 3 maturity of its regulatory framework, a solid international research reputation, comprehensive training opportunities, and a rapidly growing private health sector.
From vision to action
Marieme’s presentation concluded with a call to action built around four pillars:
- A clear and committed strategy for clinical trials in the private sector
- Stronger collaborations, including site networks and public–private partnerships
- Capacity building through continuous training, quality systems, and regulatory compliance
- Increased visibility among commercial sponsors
To become attractive research centres, private facilities must also invest in operational excellence, infrastructure, equipment, and robust quality management systems aligned with Good Clinical Practice standards.
A key message
The discussion that followed reinforced a central message: the private health sector is not a secondary player; it is essential to the success and expansion of clinical research in Senegal and across the African continent.
Pharmalys is proud to contribute to these national conversations and remains committed to supporting research, capacity building, and health system strengthening in Senegal and across the region.
