Liberia’s Pharmaceutical Division Takes Bold Steps to Mitigate Medicine Shortage

Monrovia, Liberia: Aimed at bolstering Liberia’s fragile healthcare system for effective service delivery, the Division of Pharmaceutical Service at the Ministry of Health has made giant progress in mitigating longstanding challenges in the supply of essential medicines across the country.

Although the pharmaceutical department was in a dire state, inheriting what Liberia’s Chief Pharmacist, Dr. Joshua Peters, described as an “empty cupboard” following the reign of former Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, the department is making tremendous thrives in its service delivery obligation to the country.

However, Dr. Peters averred that the severe shortage of financial resources and logistics is a major hurdle in the department’s function, which amongst others is to meet the medical needs of citizens.

Amidst the resource challenge, Dr. Peters has assured Liberians that massive efforts have been applied to improve the system.

He pointed out the critical role the Division of Pharmaceutical Services plays in the supply and distribution of crucial medical drugs across the country, which includes procurement, distribution, and management of medical drugs nationwide.

Dr. Peters explained that upon assuming office, the new leadership team was confronted with a severe lack of essential drugs, which at that time threatened the delivery of quality healthcare service to communities across the country.

He has attributed much of the current progress the department is achieving to the intervention of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the Ministry of Finance, Development Planning (MFDP), which he says played an instrumental role in stabilizing the pharmaceutical sector.

Dr. Peters disclosed that the central government made available USD 4.7 million for the procurement of essential medicines, an effort he praised as yielding positive results.

The chief pharmacist extolled the Boakai Koung administration’s efforts in prioritizing healthcare reform, emphasizing that the pharmaceutical sector is now in a better position to ensure the availability of critical medicines in hospitals and clinics across Liberia.

The division has reportedly embarked on a strategic procurement and distribution plan that is being designed to prevent future shortages, Dr. Peter said. 

According to him, these initiatives are in line with the Ministry of Health’s broader vision of achieving universal access to quality healthcare.

While acknowledging the challenges inherited by the new administration, Dr. Peters expressed optimism about the progress being made and rallied for continued government support and donor partners.

The shortage of essential medical drugs has been a longstanding issue in the public pharmaceutical sector, causing frustration for healthcare providers and patients.

This situation has resulted in the deaths of many citizens, while those with financial strength have sought medical attention in foreign countries at a higher cost.

However, with the recent financial injection and improved policies, the Department of Pharmaceutical Service at the Ministry of Health is hopeful that these issues will become a thing of the past.

Liberia’s Chief Pharmacist assured the public that the pharmaceutical division remains committed to ensuring that every Liberian has access to essential medicines, regardless of their place of residence.

Liberians are now watching closely to see how the government’s intervention will translate into tangible results, particularly in rural areas where access to medicine has historically been a major challenge.

Edited: E. Geedahgar Garsuah, Sr.