🏥 Healthcare Overview

System: Basic public healthcare system supplemented by private clinics and NGO-run facilities. Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul is the main referral hospital. Private clinics in the tourist coastal area offer better care. The system is severely underfunded.

Quality: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

Private clinics in the Senegambia tourist area and Banjul offer reasonable basic care. EFSTH handles more complex cases but is under-resourced. NGO-supported clinics provide good primary care. For serious conditions, evacuation to Dakar (Senegal) or Europe is necessary. Quality drops significantly upcountry.

💡 Medical Tourism

The Gambia is not a medical tourism destination. For advanced care, patients travel to Senegal, Morocco, or Europe.

🏨 Hospitals & Clinics Near Tourist Areas

Recommended facilities for travelers — English-speaking staff available at most listed locations.

Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) 🗣️ English spoken

📍 Near: Banjul

📞 +220-422-8223

Main government referral hospital. English-speaking staff. Overcrowded and under-equipped but handles emergencies. Located in the capital.

Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit 🗣️ English spoken

📍 Near: Fajara (near tourist coast)

📞 +220-449-5442

Well-equipped research facility that provides some clinical services. Excellent for tropical disease diagnosis. Near the tourist area.

Afri Med Clinic 🗣️ English spoken

📍 Near: Kololi (Senegambia tourist area)

📞 +220-446-4747

Private clinic in the main tourist area. Popular with tourists and expats. General consultations and minor treatments.

💊 Pharmacy Guide

Access: moderate

Hours: Pharmacies in the coastal tourist area and Banjul open 8am-7pm. Some pharmacies in tourist areas have extended hours. Limited pharmacy access upcountry.

Prescription rules: Prescription enforcement varies. Many medications available without strict prescription. Focus on buying from licensed pharmacies to ensure quality and authenticity.

Available Over-the-Counter

  • paracetamol
  • ibuprofen
  • oral rehydration salts
  • antimalarials
  • antihistamines
  • anti-diarrheals
  • insect repellent

🗣️ Useful Pharmacy Phrases

💡 Handy phrases at the pharmacy

  • : I need headache medicine
  • : I have a stomachache
  • : I need allergy medicine
  • : Where is the nearest pharmacy?
  • : I need to see a doctor

💡 Tips

Pharmacies in the tourist coastal strip (Kololi, Senegambia, Kotu) are reasonably stocked with common medications. Staff speak English. Counterfeit drugs exist — buy only from licensed pharmacies. Bring essential and specialized medications from home.

🏪 Pharmacy Chains You’ll See

Look for these storefronts:

  • Kairaba Pharmacy — Licensed pharmacy in tourist area. Senegambia/Kololi tourist strip
  • Gambia Pharmacy — Look for 'Pharmacy' signage. Banjul and Serrekunda

💊 Common OTC Medications by Local Brand

Knowing the local brand name makes asking for common over-the-counter medications much easier.

  • paracetamol/acetaminophen → Paracetamol / Panadol
    Widely available at licensed pharmacies. Check expiry dates.
  • ibuprofen → Ibuprofen
    Available at licensed pharmacies. Verify packaging authenticity.
  • loperamide (anti-diarrheal) → Imodium / Loperamide
    Available at larger pharmacies. Useful given the water and food safety conditions.

💉 Medications & Restrictions

Carry a doctor's letter listing all medications with generic names. Keep medications in original packaging. English documentation is accepted. Bring your full supply as specific medications may not be available or may be counterfeit.

Controlled / Restricted Substances

🚫 Watch out for these

  • 🚫 Cannabis/CBD products — Illegal. Drug laws are strict with severe penalties including imprisonment.
  • ⚠️ Narcotic painkillers — Controlled substances. Carry a doctor's letter and original packaging.
  • ⚠️ Psychotropic medications — Carry documentation from your prescribing physician.

🦷 Dental Care

Availability: Limited. A few dental clinics in the Banjul/tourist coastal area. None upcountry.

Typical cost range: $20-70 for basic procedures

Dental care is basic. Some private dentists in the tourist area can handle routine treatments. Complex dental work requires travel abroad.

🦷 Dental emergency?

For dental emergencies, private clinics in the Senegambia area can do extractions. Pack a dental emergency kit for upcountry travel.

🛡️ Travel Insurance

⚠️ Strongly recommended

Average cost: $30-55/week

💡 Tip

Medical evacuation coverage is essential. Serious conditions require evacuation to Dakar, Senegal or Europe. Ensure malaria treatment is covered. The Gambia is a popular budget destination — do not skimp on travel insurance.

📋 How to File an Insurance Claim

Keep all receipts and medical documentation. Most facilities require cash payment upfront. Gambian dalasi (GMD) is the local currency. Submit claims with receipts to your insurer after returning home. Contact your insurer's emergency line before seeking treatment if possible.

💵 Typical Out-of-Pocket Costs

Estimated cash prices (USD):

  • Doctor visit (private clinic): $15-40
  • ER visit (no admission): $30-100
  • Overnight hospital stay: $50-150
  • Ambulance call-out: $30-80 (very limited availability)

Healthcare costs are low but quality varies significantly. Private clinics in the tourist area charge more but provide better care. Cash payment is standard.

🚁 Medical Evacuation

Dakar is the primary evacuation destination — less than an hour by air. Banjul International Airport is the departure point. For serious injuries or cardiac events, evacuation is essential. Many UK tour operators include evacuation coordination.

Primary destination: Dakar, Senegal

Secondary destination: Europe (UK, Spain, or Morocco)

Typical cost band: $10,000-50,000

Common providers: Global Rescue, MedJet, International SOS — compare current quotes and policy terms before relying on any single provider.

💉 Vaccinations

Required

  • 🔴 Yellow Fever (required for all travelers)

Recommended

  • 🟡 Hepatitis A
  • 🟡 Hepatitis B
  • 🟡 Typhoid
  • 🟡 Rabies (for extended or rural travel)
  • 🟡 Meningococcal meningitis (especially during dry season December-June)
  • 🟡 Malaria prophylaxis (essential — malaria is endemic throughout The Gambia)
  • 🟡 Routine vaccinations (MMR, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, polio)

Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is REQUIRED for entry. Malaria is a serious risk year-round, with highest transmission during and after the rainy season (June-November). Prophylaxis is essential.

🚰 Water & Food Safety

❌ Tap water is NOT safe — drink bottled water only

Tap water is NOT safe to drink. Use sealed bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth. Avoid ice in drinks outside of international hotels. Bottled water is widely available in the tourist coastal area. Carry purification tablets for upcountry travel.

Food Safety Tips

Eat at established restaurants in the tourist areas. Fresh fish and grilled meats from busy beach restaurants are generally safe when cooked thoroughly. Avoid raw vegetables and unpeeled fruit. Benachin (jollof rice) and domoda (groundnut stew) are popular and usually safe when freshly prepared and hot.

🧠 Mental Health Resources

🆘 Crisis Line: No dedicated crisis line available

International crisis support: International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

English-speaking therapists: Very few. Some NGOs provide counseling services.

Mental health services are very limited. Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital near Banjul is the main mental health facility. Stigma around mental illness remains significant. Some NGO-supported counseling is available.

♿ Accessibility

Accessibility infrastructure is very limited. Tourist hotels may have some accessible rooms but public spaces lack accessibility features. Sandy beaches and unpaved roads present challenges.

Hospital accessibility: Major hospitals have basic entry access but are not designed for wheelchair users.

Accessible transport: No accessible public transport. Tourist taxis can be arranged. Some resorts offer assistance.

💡 Accessibility tips

Contact your hotel in advance about accessibility. The tourist coastal area is relatively flat. Beach wheelchairs are not commonly available. Hiring a local guide is helpful.

🫁 COVID & Respiratory Illness

Entry requirements: No COVID testing or vaccination requirements for entry as of 2026.

Mask policy: No mask mandates in place.

Testing availability: Limited COVID testing available at EFSTH and some private clinics.

COVID situation has stabilized. Healthcare capacity remains limited.

🚨 Emergency Contacts

🆘 Emergency: 116 (police), 118 (fire), no reliable national ambulance number — go directly to hospital or clinic

📚 Sources & References

Data compiled from official government health sources, WHO, and traveler-reported information.

⚠️ This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before traveling and verify current entry requirements with official sources.