Gambia: Government Projects D4.1 Million for Mental Health Services in 2027

What the report says

The Gambia’s government has proposed D4.1 million for its mental health programme in the 2027 budget, according to estimates of revenue and expenditure tabled before the National Assembly. The figure appears under the Ministry of Health’s projected spending in the Programme Based Budgeting framework for the 2027 financial year.

The estimates were presented to lawmakers by the minister of finance on 25 September 2026, as reported by Foroyaa via AllAfrica. The health ministry is projected to receive D4.095 billion overall, with mental health listed among several public health programmes alongside cancer control, hepatitis control, malaria control, tuberculosis and leprosy services, and non-communicable disease programmes.

The budget document also sets out allocations across other health areas, including hospital services, specialised care, public health services, training, diagnostics and pharmaceutical services. While the proposed figures show the government’s priorities for the coming year, they remain part of the budget process and still require legislative consideration.

The proposed funding is notable because it places mental health within the wider health spending framework rather than as a separate initiative. More broadly, the figures offer a snapshot of how the government plans to divide health resources in 2027, including care delivery, administration, infrastructure and emergency support.