Social crisis in healthcare: The F2S raises its voice and announces a boycott of vaccination followed by a national strike

Tensions are rising in the health sector in Senegal. Meeting in Dakar on Saturday, May 16, 2026, the Federation of Health Unions (F2S) presented a harsh assessment of the social situation and denounced what it calls "delaying tactics" by the Ministry of Public Service and Labor in the handling of union demands.

Following this meeting, the general secretaries of the F2S strongly criticized the conditions under which an official summons concerning the sectors involved in the strikes was allegedly sent to them. According to the F2S, this invitation, received unofficially and less than 24 hours before the scheduled meeting, constitutes a serious breach of the principles of social dialogue and a lack of respect for the union partners.

For the federation, such an approach reflects a clear desire to manipulate public opinion rather than a genuine intention to open sincere negotiations on the deep difficulties shaking the health system.

Faced with this situation, the F2S demands the urgent opening of "serious, honest, and formal" discussions with the authorities, while also calling for the strict implementation of the commitments contained in the social stability pact signed with the Senegalese government. The organization believes that the sector's critical problems require concrete, sustainable solutions that respect existing agreements.

At the local level, the federation also appealed to the chief medical officer of the Pikine health district, urging him to fully respect union rights as well as the laws and regulations governing administrative relations within healthcare facilities. The F2S is advocating for calm, while reaffirming its willingness to engage in dialogue.

But in the absence of responses deemed satisfactory, the federation is escalating its actions. It has announced a new national action plan, including a total boycott of all vaccination-related activities from June 1st to 8th, 2026, across the entire country. A press conference is also scheduled for June 2nd, before a 72-hour general strike planned for June 4th, 5th, and 6th.

The F2S also specifies that the withholding of health information remains in place until its demands are met and warns that a hardening of the movement is not excluded if the authorities persist in their silence.

Through this latest escalation, the Federation of Health Unions asserts its intention to defend the interests of workers in the sector, improve their working conditions, and preserve the quality of the Senegalese healthcare system for the benefit of the population. This increased pressure could significantly impact the functioning of health services in the coming weeks.