Pharmacists at the polyclinic of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul have confirmed the lack of vital medical supplies at the health facility, a trend that has now become normalized in many health settings across the country.
The Gambian population continues to be burdened with the exorbitant cost of out-of-pocket health expenses, despite the rollout of a so-called national health insurance scheme and millions of dalasi worth of health interventions by philanthropists, organizations and development partners.
It’s not a novelty in The Gambia to see public health workers operate their private pharmacies, where almost every kind of drugs could be sold.
“But public health facilities continue to struggle with medical supplies issues and there appears to be no end in sight,” said a concerned Gambian.
While some blamed the issue on corruption in the system, others blamed it on government’s inadequate investment in the health sector.
