The newly-appointed Managing Director of the Liberia Medicines & Health Products Regulatory Authority, Luke Bawo, has stressed the need for human capacity-building within the entity.
Making opening statements during an engagement meeting with members of the Senior Management Team of the Authority, Dr. Bawo stressed that currently, the authority is functioning below its actual potential; however, there is potential for growth.
The new LMHRA Managing Director, who is also the Board’s immediate-past Chairperson, further emphasized that his administration over the next six years will focus on ensuring that there is external collaboration with other regulatory authorities.
“There is a potential for growth in this entity, but it would require growth in our human capacities. Therefore, his administration will make sure the full mandate for which the authority was established is actualized,” Dr. Bawo emphasized.
He then mentioned that the approved Strategic Plan, made provision for the position of Deputy Managing Director for Technical Services.
The DMDTS will supervise the four Technical Departments inclusive of Evaluation & Registration, Inspectorate & Post-market Surveillance, Pharmacovigilance and the Quality Control Laboratory.
The new LMHRA Managing Director also disclosed that in order to streamline work processes and reduce turnaround time, the entity will automate registration, evaluation, and laboratory processes.
He vowed to do total mapping that will provide a comprehensive data base of all pharmacies, drug stores, and health facilities among others as a way to further strengthen the LMHRA.
The LMHRA’s Managing Director, at the same time, promised open government and accountability in the sector. He warned employees to avoid using their positions to solicit what he described as “Saturdays” from business institutions.
Dr. Bawo promised to expand the scope of the authority through expanded regulation of cosmetics, herbal products, medical devices and supplements.
The LMHRA boss vowed to send staff to bigger regulatory authorities around the world to expand their skills; in order to create an efficient LMHRA and increase growth.
In continuation of his engagement with staff of the authority, the Managing Director and his deputy on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, also visited the Quality Control Laboratory at which time he promised to galvanize support in order to build the capacity of staff and upgrade the laboratory to international standard and strengthen its international and regional relationships.
Dr. Bawo also vowed to complete the construction of the ultra-modern QCLab and provide the relevant reagents and equipment for the full functioning of that facility.
He stressed the need to eliminate overlapping function between the LMHRA and the Pharmacy Board of Liberia. Rather, the both institutions should collaborate for stronger partnership.
The Quality Control Laboratory is the bedrock of the authority, with its core function to conduct testing of all medicines and health products circulating the commerce of Liberia.
The newly-appointed Deputy Managing Director for Technical Services, Patricia Quaye-Freeman, admonished employees to put the past behind them by putting the Liberian people’s work at the fore-front of their functions.
“So as we charter a new course at the LMHRA, I encouraged all to come on board let move the authority forward by doing the Liberian people’s work,” Dr. Quaye-Freeman averred.
Meanwhile, staff of the head office and the QC Lab, appraised the both leaders of the challenges, progress and future of the authority. They pledged their fullest support and cooperation to the new administration.
It can be recalled that President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, on April 11, 2024, nominated and appointed the Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director for Technical Services at the Liberia Medical Health Regulatory Authority (LMHRA).
The appointment by the Liberian leader affected former Board Chairman, Dr. Luke Bawo as Managing Director and former Director of Registration, Dr. Patricia Quaye-Freeman as Deputy Managing Director for Technical Services.
The LMHRA is the statutory arm of the Government of Liberia with responsibility to ensure that all medicines and health products circulating the borders of Liberia are safe and efficacious.
The LMHRA was established based on provisions of the National Drug Policy for the establishment of a Medicines Regulatory Authority to enact and update medicines regulations to regulate the Pharmaceutical Sector, and establishment of a national quality control laboratory under the Authority.
The Authority was officially established on 29 September 2010.
