The Liberia Health Civil Society Organization Network (LiHCON), the umbrella organization comprising 22 members, has called on the Government of Liberia (GOL) to take urgent measures to address the growing health-related poverty in the country just as the organization maintains that health-related costs remain the leading barrier preventing Liberians from accessing care: too many families face impossible choices between visiting a doctor, buying medicine, or meeting basic needs like food and education. Such trade-offs delay treatment, worsen health outcomes, and deepen poverty.
The position of the organization was contained in a press statement issued yesterday in Monrovia and signed by Joyce L. Kilikpo, Co-Convener of the Liberia Health CSO Network, in commemoration of the 2024 edition of the Universal Coverage Day, held under the theme, “Health is on the Government”.
According to the press release, a copy of which was sent to this paper, the Liberia Health CSO Network urged the government to adopt targeted measures to reduce financial barriers and protect the most vulnerable, among which is for the government to establish the National Public Health Insurance scheme which will cover healthcare costs for the entire population, ensuring affordable access to an essential package of quality services and medicines. “This was something the President mentioned in his inaugural and State-of-the-Nation Address. We call on the President to ensure this is a reality for all Liberians,” the release said.
The release further said the government should invest in equitable and climate-resilient health systems based on a primary healthcare approach that ensures service continuity during crises, as well as urging the government to state clearly its policy direction on free health care. The Health CSO Network asserted that, though the government in 2006 ascribed to free health care, however, there is a reality that unofficial fees continue to be charged by service providers in public facilities. “Tell us whether the government ascribes to free health care or not, the government’s silence on these critical issues pushes Liberians further into poverty, and no one should be pushed into poverty because they are seeking health-“Health is on the government”. Is either fee for service or no fee, and if no fee, put in a mechanism to prevent service providers putting the financial burden for health care on the vulnerable population,” the group said.
Also, part of the targeted measures, the CSO called for social participation in health policy to enable citizens to participate in health policy-making, ensuring their voices shape public health priorities and build trust between communities and the government by investing in decentralized health structures such as health facility development committees, to be supported from the national or county budget.
Making use of the International Journal for Equity in Health report, the group said 17% of households in Liberia face catastrophic health expenditures, compared to a regional average of 11%, meaning they spend more than 10% of their income on healthcare.
“Additionally, out-of-pocket expenditures account for 56% of total health expenditures in Liberia, significantly higher than the regional average of 36% (World Bank, 2023). These figures underscore the urgent need for policies to eliminate financial barriers to care,” the release said.
The release maintained that health is on the government, and the Universal Health Coverage Day commemoration is a reminder to Liberia’s commitment to ensuring financial protection and equitable access to essential health services for all. It stated that, in line with the 2023 Political Declaration on UHC, Liberia pledged to accelerate progress toward policies that increase access to quality essential health services, and reduce out-of-pocket expenditures that push families into financial hardship.
“Investing in health is not only a moral imperative but also a catalyst for economic growth. When financial barriers to health are removed, children thrive in schools, women and girls achieve greater equality, worker absenteeism decreases, and economies prosper.
“We commend Liberia for its leadership in endorsing the 2024 World Health Assembly resolution on social participation for UHC, and urge swift action to implement its principles.
“The Liberia Health CSO Network stands ready to support the government in implementing these critical actions. We look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to achieve Universal Health Coverage and ensure no Liberian is left behind due to health-related poverty,” the release concluded.
On December 12, 2012, the United Nations unanimously endorsed a historic resolution urging all countries to accelerate progress towards universal access to affordable and quality health care services for all. This day has since become an annual rallying point for the global movement advocating for Health for All, emphasizing that quality, affordable health care is essential for individuals to lead productive lives and for nations to maintain strong economies.