Concerns are growing among Liberian Senators about the ongoing crises affecting the Ministry of Health, as frustrations mount over the struggling healthcare system that continues to impact citizens nationwide. During a regular session on Thursday, March 13, 2025, members of the Liberian Senate raised alarms about operational challenges within the Ministry, including the lack of medical supplies, essential logistics, and basic services at government-run hospitals, clinics, and health centers.
Senator Momo Cyrus of Lofa County expressed his dissatisfaction with the small portion of the 2024 national budget allocated to his region’s healthcare system. He emphasized the impact of these limited resources on the health services in his county, saying, “It’s disheartening to see our healthcare system suffer due to limited resources.”
Other senators joined in criticizing the Ministry’s struggles, with several pointing to internal crises within the department that have hindered its effectiveness. These issues prompted the Senate to summon key officials from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to appear before them for questioning.
Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe of Bomi County underscored the gravity of the situation, calling out the Ministry for being “seriously engulfed in internal crises,” which, he argued, are preventing the department from functioning properly. He suggested that an overhaul was necessary to address these issues and improve the delivery of services. “The current state of affairs is unacceptable,” Snowe remarked.
In response to these ongoing concerns, the Senate took action, demanding that the Ministers of Health and Finance, along with the CSA, appear before the body to clarify the reasons behind delays in disbursement and payments to health centers across the country. The decision was made during the Senate’s 16th sitting on March 13.
The Senate instructed the Ministry of Health to provide a detailed budget and performance report for the 2024 fiscal year, which should include information on drugs imported and distributed to health centers since the current Health Minister took office. Furthermore, the Senate has asked the Health Minister to appear alongside representatives from relevant health institutions, including the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the National Drugs Service (NDS), to explain why health centers have not received adequate medical supplies as planned.
Senator Amara Konneh of Gbarpolu County had previously raised concerns about widespread complaints from health centers regarding delayed payments and shortages of supplies. Despite the Senate approving more than seventy million U.S. dollars for the 2024 fiscal year budget, significant disbursement delays have plagued the health sector.
The summoned officials are expected to appear before the Senate on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. to provide further clarity on the situation.
