By Makutu Manneh
Health Minister Ahmadou Samateh has said that providing free healthcare services is not sustainable for The Gambia, citing the country’s status as a developing nation with limited financial resources.
Speaking on Saturday during the Mansa Kunda Ministerial Town Hall, Samateh defended the government’s recent adjustments to healthcare service fees, emphasizing that the charges remain heavily subsidized and represent only a fraction of the actual cost of medical care.
He urged Gambians to consider the true cost of healthcare services, including medical procedures and operations, in order to appreciate the extent of government support.
“I will encourage you to look at the cost of services, the cost of an operation. Believe me when you do the calculations, you will know that the government is doing quite a lot,” he stated.
The minister also addressed persistent shortages in the health sector, attributing them largely to The Gambia’s reliance on imported medical supplies. He noted that the country produces virtually none of the medicines and medical consumables used in health facilities, including basic drugs such as paracetamol.
“We do not manufacture these medical items. The only area where we have made significant progress is oxygen production. The government and its partners should be commended for that achievement because before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was not a single oxygen plant in the country’s health sector,” he stated.
According to Samateh, The Gambia now has six containerized oxygen plants operating across the country, marking a major improvement in the health system’s capacity.
He highlighted the installation of a full containerized oxygen plant in Bansang, in the Central River Region, as evidence of the sector’s progress.
“This is how far we have come,” he added.
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