The Gambia and the Right to Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Health Care: A Legal Commentary

Abstract

Health rights are important fundamental human rights. But unfortunately missing in the Gambian 1997 Constitution.  Besides, the right to health does not only pertain to the mainstream sector but extends to the practice of medical pluralism. In promoting medical pluralism in a country such as the Gambia, rights to health should also extend to access to traditional and alternative remedies.  The provision of the attainable highest standard in the profession should be the hallmark of the Nation. Article 24 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states: Indigenous peoples have the right to their traditional medicines and to maintain their health practices, including the conservation of their vital medicinal plants, animals, and minerals. The question is what is being done for the Indigenous Peoples in the Gambia to have access to their traditional and alternative medicines without any hindrances? In this legal commentary, I explore the constitutional provisions of the right to health in the Gambia and access to traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines.