EFSCRJ Objects to Increased Hospital Fees and Calls for Free Public Healthcare and Federation.

Healthcare is a fundamental human right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. EFSCRJ strongly opposes the reported increase in fees at public health facilities across The Gambia. At a time when citizens are struggling with rising living costs, increasing the cost of healthcare will only deny many people access to essential medical services, leading to unnecessary suffering, worsening illness, and preventable deaths.

Public healthcare should not be measured against private hospitals or facilities in other countries. Gambians already contribute through taxes while the health sector continues to receive substantial public and donor funding. Rather than burdening citizens with higher fees, government must prioritize accountability, eliminate waste and corruption, and ensure that public resources are invested in delivering quality healthcare for all.

We call on the Government to suspend and review these fee increases and take concrete steps toward universal, accessible, and free public healthcare. We further urge the National Assembly and the President to strengthen legal protections for the right to health and make healthcare a guaranteed and enforceable right for every Gambian.

A healthy nation is a productive, secure, and prosperous nation. Healthcare and education are not costs; they are investments in our collective future.