By Shruti Menon Seeboo
As the Mauritius Budget 2025-2026 was presented, Dr. the Hon. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP, in his multifaceted role as Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister of Finance, and Minister for Rodrigues and Outer Islands, underscored a fundamental truth: “Building a resilient economy is good social policy, and good social policy helps to grow the economy.” This powerful synergy is at the heart of the government’s commitment to introduce a New Social Order, aiming to steer the nation away from what was described as “the path of social decadence blazed by the previous heartless Government.” The current administration is resolute in its mission to rebuild and strengthen the social fabric of Mauritius, fostering an equitable and progressive society.
Education: Nurturing Our Human Capital for a Brighter Future
Recognising that human capital is Mauritius’s most precious resource, the Budget places a high priority on nurturing and investing in high-quality education. As stated by the Prime Minister, the government is “starting at the top, with a renewed social contract for education.” This new social contract is envisioned as a collaborative effort, requiring broad participation and robust stakeholder support. To guide this critical national project, the government will introduce an “appropriate Blueprint to provide clear directions.”
In the immediate term, to promote greater inclusiveness, the Budget makes specific provisions to secure enhanced support for Special Education Needs (SEN) students. A significant allocation of Rs 20 million is earmarked to consolidate the Foundation Programme, further strengthening early educational support.
Quality assurance is also a key focus. A dedicated Quality Assurance Unit will be established for both the pre-primary and primary education sectors. Furthermore, the government is establishing a National Education Council and a National Curriculum Advisory Board. These bodies will be tasked with advising the government on crucial quality improvements across pre-primary, primary, and secondary education.
To ensure the physical infrastructure supports these educational ambitions, a substantial Rs 438 million is allocated for improvements across all learning institutions, from pre-primary to tertiary levels.
Mauritius harbours a grand vision for higher education: to become a leading regional hub for higher education, research, and innovation. This represents a strategic shift from merely consuming knowledge to actively generating it. The ambitious aim is to double the number of foreign students in Mauritius within the next three years. To facilitate this, a Hall of Residence will be constructed at Réduit to accommodate both international and local students. The government will actively encourage reputable institutions of higher learning to operate in Mauritius and, in collaboration with private stakeholders, will develop a comprehensive marketing strategy for the “Study Mauritius” brand, firmly establishing the island as an education hub.
Health for All: The Foundation for a Fairer Future
The Budget also outlines fundamental reforms for the nation’s healthcare system, envisioning a new model within the New Social Order that transcends traditional approaches. This future-ready system is designed to address new challenges, including the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), an ageing population, and increasingly complex health threats such as pandemics and climate change.
The new health system will rigorously prioritise prevention through health promotion, robust healthy lifestyle campaigns, and comprehensive NCD management. To this end, an innovative ‘Path to Remission Programme’ for diabetic and pre-diabetic patients is being introduced, projected to reach approximately 450,000 citizens. An initial allocation of Rs 47 million will kick-start this vital programme. A similar proactive approach is being stressed for cancer and cardio-vascular diseases, involving the participation of leading foreign consultants. International conferences for teaching and research have already commenced.
To further promote preventive healthcare, several measures concerning excise duties will take effect:
- Starting tomorrow, 6th June 2025, the rates of excise duty on alcoholic and tobacco products will be increased by 10 percent.
- The rate of excise duty on the sugar content of sugar-sweetened products will be increased from 6 cents to 12 cents per gramme of sugar, with a financial resolution to this effect.
- Additionally, from 1st October 2025, the excise duty on sugar-sweetened products will be extended to chocolates and ice cream.
A new culture of hospital management is being introduced, focusing on placing the “right person in the right place.” To achieve this, provisions are made for the recruitment of five professional managers, who will operate under strict key performance indicators to ensure the highest standards of hospital management. Accident and Emergency departments will now be staffed by qualified emergency physicians, replacing generalist physicians to provide more specialised care.
To secure strong and effective quality control across the health sector, a National Health Quality Commission is being established. Furthermore, the government will set up an office of an Ombudsperson for health services, empowered to investigate any abusive practices within the sector.
Outdated practices such as paper health records, long queues, and disconnected healthcare providers are set to become a thing of the past. The government is committed to applying digital health solutions, including electronic health records, telemedicine, and e-prescriptions, to significantly improve efficiency and access to care. Necessary infrastructure, equipment, and staffing are also being provided to reduce waiting times for treatment.
Addressing mosquito-borne diseases is another key area, with the government investing Rs 24 million in the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) Production Facility, a novel strategy for control.
Despite a very tight budgetary situation, the healthcare system’s capacity building is being significantly boosted. Provisions are made for the recruitment of 1,000 Student Nurses over the next three years, alongside 50 trainee midwives, 50 Medical and Health Officers, and 30 Specialists, among others. The budget for training and capacity building in healthcare has been doubled from Rs 22 million to Rs 44 million.
To enhance food safety and public health, Rs 20 million is allocated for the purchase of rapid testing kits, enabling instant detection of contaminants and thus faster response. In total, the healthcare budget stands at a substantial Rs 18.5 billion.
Environment
Environmental considerations are being placed at the heart of the government’s policies for a New Social Order. Notably, as the Budget was presented on World Environment Day, the policy actions reaffirm a strong commitment to help safeguard the natural world for present and future generations. The government stresses the need for boldness in tackling environmental issues.
In addition to previously announced Waste-to-Wealth initiatives and the development of the renewable energy industry, Rs 164 million is being provided to restore vital habitats, prevent beach erosion, and combat marine pollution. To further reinforce environmental protection, the government is introducing more prohibitive fines on noise and sound pollution and will also launch a Deposit Refund Scheme for plastic bottles.
To better mobilise and manage climate finance for adaptation, mitigation, and resilience efforts, a dedicated Climate Finance Unit will be established at the Ministry of Finance.
Combatting Drugs: Aiming for a Drugs-Free Future
In the fight against drug abuse, the government’s approach is unequivocally clear and resolute: zero-tolerance. To this end, the National Agency for Drug Control (NADC) has been established, and an amount of Rs 70 million has been earmarked in this Budget to support the agency’s operational setup.
The Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) is being significantly strengthened with increased manpower, advanced drug detection technologies, and improved inter-agency collaboration. Furthermore, drug screening facilities at both the airport and seaport are undergoing essential upgrades.
Progress is also being made on critical infrastructure: the construction of the New Forensic Laboratory is expected to be completed by the end of December this year. This laboratory will be reorganised to be more results-oriented and will include a dedicated, specialised laboratory for drug detection.
Addressing rehabilitation, Rs 3.5 million is being provided for the implementation of a structured drug rehabilitation and reintegration centre at Petit Verger Prison, targeting 50 detainees in its initial phase.
