Liberia has taken a step toward achieving universal health coverage as key stakeholders convened Monday, March 24, 2025 at the Golden Key Hotel to validate the actuarial analysis for the proposed Liberia Health Equity Fund (LHEF) or Liberia Social Health Insurance Scheme.
The meeting brought together policymakers, development partners and government officials to assess the viability and financial sustainability of LHEF as a policy for sustainable health financing in Liberia. During the gathering, participants reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring accessible and equitable healthcare for all Liberians.
Speaking Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Malayah T. Chieyoe, Deputy Minister for Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Health, said a robust healthcare system is essential for national development. “A healthy population is the foundation of any development you’re considering. Without a healthy population, forget about development,” he stated.
For his part, Nathaniel Kwabo, Director of Cabinet, reaffirmed President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s dedication to universal health coverage, stating that healthcare access is a fundamental human right.
“This initiative has been a priority for the president even before he assumed office. Every Liberian, regardless of their background, must have access to healthcare,” Mr. Kwabo declared.
He also highlighted the consequences of inadequate healthcare financing, noting that many preventable deaths occur due to a lack of resources. Also, P. Mike Jurry, Chair of the House Committee on Ways, Means and Finance vowed to secure financial support for the program, stating that the House of Representatives will work with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to ensure money is available for this crucial program.
George P. Jacobs, Assistant Minister for Policy and Planning, underscored the importance of the validation exercise in shaping the future of health financing in Liberia.
According to him, the process is essential in determining how “we can sustainably finance universal health coverage.” Minister Jacobs highlighted Liberia’s financial challenges, revealing that public investment in health remains insufficient. “In 2025, the government will allocate $91 million to health, while anticipated donor funds stand at $81 million.’’
He added that the actual need is over $458 million,” in line with WHO projection per capital. To bridge the gap, the Minister outlined Liberia’s strategy for achieving universal health coverage; saying, the Liberia Health Equity Fund will be the medium-to-long-term strategy for sustainable health financing. “Liberia has only 11 to 12.8 skilled health workers per 10,000 people. Midwives, lab technologists, and specialized nurses are in short supply,” Mr. Jacobs lamented.
