Africa-Press – Gambia. The National Assembly has continued its pre-scrutiny of the 2026 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure in Basse, Upper River Region, with members reviewing the Ministry of Health’s proposed budget during the ongoing Pre-Budget Retreat.
According to a statement from the Assembly, the session formed part of the legislature’s sectoral analysis exercise, aimed at deepening members’ understanding of the content, structure, and programme-based nature of the national budget ahead of formal debate in plenary.
The presentation was delivered by Mr. Gibril Jarju, Director of Planning and Information at the Ministry of Health. For the 2026 fiscal year, the ministry has proposed a total allocation of GMD 3.14 billion, representing a 15 percent increase from the GMD 2.72 billion allocated in 2025.
The draft estimates are organized under five key programme areas:
Strategy, Policy, and Management: GMD 1.00 billion in 2025, increasing to GMD 1.04 billion in 2026 (4% rise).
Health Promotion: GMD 7.84 million in 2025, decreasing to GMD 2.94 million in 2026 (63% decline).
Family Health Programme: GMD 50.76 million in 2025, rising to GMD 102.21 million in 2026 (101% increase).
Disease Control Programme: GMD 209.19 million in 2025, rising slightly to GMD 213.07 million in 2026 (2% increase).
Management of Subvented Institutions: GMD 1.22 billion in 2025, increasing to GMD 1.63 billion in 2026 (33% rise).
The statement noted that members of the National Assembly engaged the ministry’s representative on the main drivers behind the budgetary increases, including rising costs of electricity, water, and sewage services, rent and rates, consultancy fees, training, drugs, and medical supplies, as well as the management of subvented institutions.
The ongoing pre-budget sessions in Basse are part of the Assembly’s broader effort to enhance parliamentary oversight and ensure transparency and accountability in the national budgeting process.
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