Monrovia, Liberia- The Liberia Medical and Dental Association has described the US$225 & $50 increment by the Minister of Finance August Kpeh Ngafuah as a gross insult to their profession.
Addressing a team of journalists on Monday, December 16, 2024, in Monrovia, the President of the LMDA Dr Peter George alarmed over the alleged harsh treatment melted against health workers across the country, noting that healthcare professionals are being paid as janitors.
“What we have seen is that Liberian doctors being officially assigned as managers while being paid as janitors yet, having the burden of performing as managers,” Dr. George lamented.
According to him, the LMDA has worked with the leadership of the Ministry of Health and formulate a proposal of the 90 specialists and consultants, with their current salaries and their propose reclassification salaries have been developed.
He added that the total cost or variance or amount needed to be added to the reclassification salaries has been estimated at around USD$800,000 per annual.
“The Liberia Medical and Dental Association have worked with the Ministry of Health who has forwarded the full list to the ministry of Financial and the CSA for the reclassification of the ninety (90) medical doctors,” he noted.
Additionally, medical doctors who are qualified and have completed their internship are also part of the reclassification process.
“The LMDA was shocked to hear the CSA and the Ministry of Finance recent pronouncement of a $225 addition as top ups of the gross monthly salaries of specialists medical doctors and $50 on the gross salaries on nurses.”
Continuing, he said: “We think proposal is unacceptable, and a gross insult to the intelligence of professionals who continues to sacrifice their lives in the health sector.”
He said the LMDA rejects this proposal in the strongest possible terms and immediately started having consultative meeting and engagement with the CSA and the Ministry of Finance to redress their case.
However, he alleged that all efforts have proven futile as the government continue to insist on the USD$225 and $50.00 as top ups on their salaries.
“The LMDA is not asking the government of Liberia for an increment in salaries for any of its doctors. The LMDA is only asking for special consideration from the government of Liberia or in any way,” he asserted.
The LMDA is asking the government of Liberia through the CSA, MOH, and the Ministry of Finance to reclassify and pay these specialist and consultants their just salaries accordingly.
“From the day each of these medical doctors was officially handed over there letter of employment or assignment, the government of Liberia owes each of them for that job position.”
The Liberia Medical & Dental Association strong admonishes the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Civil Service Agency to reconsider said US$225 & $50.00 proposal as it is counterproductive to the progress made in the health sector.
“We believe, and with the strongest conviction that the government of Liberia has enough money to pay the Liberian healthcare professionals if she sees them as essential professional people.”
The LMDA is strongly recommending to the ministry of Finance and the CSA find funding wherever they must find it to ensure all specialists are fully reclassified in the 2025 national budget.
“We believe our sacrifices and professionalism have been misinterpreted by many in leadership and we find that unacceptable.”
According to the LMDA, healthcare workers, especially medical doctors in the clinical areas are considered declaration of poverty.
“Being a healthcare worker, especially a medical doctor in the clinical areas must not be a declaration of poverty for Liberian doctors. We deserve better. And we must demand what we are due for now.”
The LMDA is also calling on the government to do the following: to provide adequate medical supplies at all health facilities; the provision of essential medical equipment to ensure diagnosis including MRI, CT Scan, and the provision of essential equipment to ensure treatment in the mediation services for cancer patients, safe blood transmission for all citizens.
Additionally, they are calling for adequate housing for rural healthcare workers and adequate ambulances for quick referrer and among other things.
