Health Legislation

The Constitution of the Gambia was adopted in 1997. It is the supreme law of the country and consists of 232 articles that are grouped into 23 chapters. The Constitution sets out the values and principles of the state, defines supremacy rules for the law, proclaims fundamental rights and freedoms, establishes key bodies of the state, etc.

This law establishes the legal regime for foreign nationals, setting out, in particular, the rules governing their entry, stay and exit from the country, their rights, duties and guarantees. With the exception of visa requirements, this law does not apply to permanent diplomatic and consular agents and their families or to special missions.

The Decree regulates the health care delivery by private entities.

The law regulates the refugee status. Its definition, the impediment and loss of refugee status, the authorization requirements among others issues.

The law creates the National Health Service of Mozambique. It also provides information on the organization of levels of care in the country: primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary.

The Act regulates the profession of nurse and midwife in The Gambia.

The Public Health Act makes provisions for public and environmental health and other matters connected therewith.

This Act makes provision for the establishment of a Medical and Dental Council; for the Registration of Medical and Dental Practitioners; for the discipline of persons registered under the Act and other matters connected therewith.

The Act provides for the establishment of Hospital Management Boards, the charging fees for medical and health services and the regulation of such fees, the regulation of conditions under which private hospitals or other health facilities may be established, and for connected matters.

This Act makes provision requiring public corporations, companies, persons and other business enterprises to make financial contributions towards the operation and maintenance of the medical services, and connected matters.

The law states that all health measures of a prophylactic nature are free of charge. Every citizen has the right to free medical care when they are hospitalized. All complementary diagnostic tests are free of charge both in inpatient and outpatient settings. 

The Act makes provision for the acquisition of citizenship of The Gambia by registration in certain cases; regulates the manner and circumstances in which aliens may naturalised as citizens of The Gambia and in which citizens of The Gambia may renounce or be deprived of their citizenship; and makes provision for certain other matters relating to citizenship of The Gambia.

The Act consolidates and makes better provision for the control of immigration into and residence in The Gambia.

This Act regulates the imposition of quarantine and connected matters.

This Act makes provisions for the registration of births, deaths and marriages.

The document provides an Essential Medicines List of Gambia.