Cestos City, River Cess County – River Cess County Health Team has announced the introduction of a “fees for service” program across its public health facilities beginning November 15, 2025.
According to County Health Officer (CHO) Dyujay G. Kangar, the initiative is designed to ensure that local health facilities are better equipped to sustain operations and restock drugs without relying solely on delayed central government supplies.
Under the new system, a drugs revolving fund will be established. The fund will allow facilities to use revenue generated from affordable service fees to purchase essential medicines and medical materials, a measure expected to enhance availability and service reliability across the county.
“The goal is not to commercialize healthcare but to strengthen it,” Dr. Kangar clarified during a media briefing held Tuesday in Cestos City. “When health centers collect minimal service fees, they can immediately replenish their drugs and essential items instead of waiting for months for supplies from Monrovia.”
The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Health, has pledged US$25,000 as seed funding to jumpstart the program, while the County Health Team prepares to distribute its fourth-quarter drugs supply next week to serve as the initial stock for the revolving fund.
Out of the county’s 21 health facilities, 19 will participate in the new system. The St. Francis Health Center and River Cess District Hospital will serve as referral hubs, while the remaining two privately owned facilities are excluded.
Health officials say the new approach could be a model for rural healthcare financing if successfully implemented. “This system empowers health facilities to take ownership of their sustainability and ensure patients always find essential drugs available,” said a senior nurse at St. Francis Health Center who welcomed the move.
Meanwhile, the CHO emphasized the importance of accurate public communication, calling on journalists to help educate residents about the purpose of the initiative. As part of this effort, Kangar announced a one-day media engagement forum titled “How the Health Sector Works”, aimed at strengthening cooperation between the press and the health sector.
He praised the local media for its “critical role in promoting public health awareness” and encouraged continued partnership to help citizens understand and support the policy.
If successful, the “fees for service” model could mark the beginning of a new era for River Cess.
