During the review of the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene's 2026 budget, parliamentarians raised several other major concerns regarding mental health, prevention, and governance of the sector. The budget, currently under review on Thursday, December 4, 2025, is focused on three priority programs.

Mental health remains a poor relation of the health system, with a very limited number of specialists and hospital beds.

A strong plea was made in favor of the Thiaroye psychiatric hospital during the budget review. On the pharmaceutical front, members of parliament denounced the unregulated practice of traditional medicine, the proliferation of illegal drug depots, and the sale of street products, demanding firm measures.

In terms of prevention, they recommended more resources to combat non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension, cancer), an intensification of vaccination awareness, particularly in schools, and a better supply of mosquito nets in areas affected by malaria, such as the commune of Sadio (Mbacké).

A call for governance closer to the ground

Finally, parliamentarians urged the minister to strengthen dialogue with unions in the sector to prevent strikes, to improve collaboration with local authorities and to be more responsive to questions from the Assembly.

Although the Ministry of Health's budget shows an increase on paper, MPs believe that the real challenges remain in implementation, territorial equity and concrete improvement of patients' experiences.