Ouagadougou expands weekend pharmacy guard to 120 outlets for rainy season

The regional council of Ouagadougou of the National Order of Pharmacists announced a temporary expansion of the weekend pharmacy‑on‑call system from July to November. An additional 60 pharmacies will join the existing 60 that already rotate, bringing the total to 120 outlets each weekend. The extra pharmacies will operate from 08:00 to 20:00 on Saturdays and Sundays to improve access to medicines during the rainy season, when malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and other infections surge.

Council president Dr Emery Issouf Patrick Kafando said the measure will not affect drug prices, and it aims to reduce travel distances, waiting times and patient overload at individual pharmacies. The plan covers the Kadiogo region and surrounding communes such as Saaba, Loumbila and Koubri, and relies on increased staffing, stock supplies and logistics support.