• Senegal cuts 2026 health budget by 18.7% amid fiscal tightening
  

• Reduction linked to ministry restructuring and end of external projects
  

• Sector faces staff shortages, rising disease cases, but ongoing reforms continue

Senegal has allocated 217.27 billion XOF (more than 384.52 million dollars) to the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene (MSHP) for the 2026 budget. This represents an 18.73 percent decrease from the 267 billion XOF provided in 2025.

In a statement issued Saturday, November 15, 2025, the National Assembly said the reduction is mainly due to a restructuring of government functions. This included transferring social welfare entities from the Health Ministry to the ministry in charge of social solidarity. The completion of several externally funded projects, such as the USAID Health program, also contributed to the decrease.

Planned spending in 2026 will focus on improving healthcare delivery, strengthening administration and oversight, and advancing prevention and health promotion efforts.

The budget cut comes as Dakar faces mounting fiscal pressure following the disclosure of previously unreported debt. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that Senegal’s total public debt, including obligations from state-owned enterprises, reached 132 percent of GDP at the end of 2024. This situation may force the government to tighten spending and manage resources more cautiously.

The health sector continues to face major challenges in governance, financing, and staffing. Senegal has a severe shortage of medical personnel, with only 1.1 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants in 2023, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data. The country is also dealing with rising cases of infectious diseases, including Rift Valley Fever and Mpox.

Despite these constraints, Senegal’s health system has made progress in improving access and service quality. Recent measures include the National Health System Digitization Program (PDSS), funded by the World Bank. The upcoming 2025-2029 Sector Policy Letter (LPS) outlines key priorities such as strengthening governance, expanding digitization, broadening the range of quality healthcare services, and moving toward universal health coverage.

Lydie Mobio