By Alan Clement
South Sudanese pharmacists have called for equal treatment, fair pay, and greater recognition of their role in the health sector, warning that continued marginalization undermines healthcare delivery.
During an event marking the World Pharmacists’ Day, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel under the global theme “Think Health, Think Pharmacist,” the pharmacists spotlighted systemic disparities that continue to undermine their role in the country’s healthcare system.
Speaking at the event which brought together health professionals, government officials, and development partners to reflect on the challenges facing the pharmacy profession, Dr. Simon Gore, Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Society of South Sudan led a passionate appeal to government, private sector, and fellow professionals to address longstanding marginalization.
He decried what he described as systemic discrimination in employment and remuneration noting that in the Health System Transformation Project (HSTP), pharmacists are classified alongside non-medical staff.
“Pharmacy technicians with diplomas are earning only 56 dollars a month, while clinical officers take home 300 dollars. Many institutions both public and private don’t employ pharmacists or pharmacy technicians at all. This unequal treatment must end,” he stressed.
Dr. Simon further lamented that pharmacists are often excluded from decision-making despite their expertise in drug quantification, supply chain planning, and ensuring patient safety.
WHO’s Technical Officer for Essential Medicines and Technologies, Fred Kitutu, underscored the need to harness pharmacists’ expertise to strengthen healthcare in South Sudan. “Pharmacy professionals are a vital resource that must be fully utilized,” Kitutu said, pointing to Uganda’s expansion of public pharmacies from 10 to nearly 100 facilities in two decades.
“South Sudan can learn from such growth, but this requires institutional support and collaboration across all sectors,” he continued.
Dr. Zachariah Ajak, Chairman of the South Sudan Doctors’ Union, echoed concerns over unequal treatment and low salaries, noting that South Sudanese health workers are among the lowest paid in East Africa. “South Sudanese health workers are among the lowest paid in the region compared to their colleagues in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. We must collectively push for fair compensation and inclusive training opportunities that also empower pharmacists,” he remarked.
He also emphasized legal vulnerabilities facing health workers, with calls for legislation to protect them from arbitrary detention and urged the government to increase the national health budget from its current 1.1% to at least 3–5%, in line with the Abuja Declaration.
From a regulatory standpoint, Dr. Peter Aguek, Director General for Inspection and Surveillance in the Drug and Food Control Authority, emphasized the critical role pharmacists play in safeguarding public health. “Pharmacists are part and parcel of decision-making on vaccines and medicines. They approve what goes to the market and what people consume,” Dr. Aguek stating adding, “We need to see how to pay them well for the responsibility they shoulder.”
Participants also urged the government to raise health budget allocations, provide office space for pharmacists in health institutions, and include them in policy and planning processes. The private sector was called upon to employ qualified pharmacists and technicians to guarantee quality care.
The celebration concluded with a united vision to elevate the pharmacy profession through collaboration, infrastructure, and policy reform. As Dr. Gore affirmed, “Think health, think pharmacists” must become more than a slogan; it must guide South Sudan’s path to equitable and effective healthcare.